|
 |
|
1. Can anyone apply for coordinated school health (CSH)
funding? No, only public school systems can apply.
2. Where did the coordinated school health model originate? The coordinated
school health model was developed by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) in 1988. The CDC has funded over 20 states
to support the development of coordinated school health initiatives. Tennessee received
a CDC coordinated school health grant in 2000. Meanwhile, the
Tennessee General Assembly passed TCA 49-1-1002 -
The CoordinatedSchool Health
Improvement Act of 2000, to establish coordinated school
health. State funding was provided to start ten pilot sites.
In 2006, Public
Chapter 1001 - the Coordinated School Health Expansion
and Physical Activity Law, established authority and funding
($15 million) to expand CSH statewide. The law created a Physical
Education Specialist and a Coordinator of School Health position
within the Tennessee Department of Education and mandated 90
minutes of physical activity k-12. By July 1, 2007,
all school systems will begin coordinated school health
for the 2007-2008 school year.
- What can you spend CSH funding for? CSH grants
will fund a full time CSH coordinator and assistant, basic
office supplies, computers and printers, travel and educational
materials.
- Is funding for CSH time limited? As long
as the state legislature does not change the authorizing legislation,
funding for CSH will continue indefinitely.
- Do school systems have to provide any matching funds? Yes.
School systems must match the CSH grant amount based on their
classroom BEP rate.
- Are there any data collection requirements for the
CSH initiative? Yes. There is an extensive data
collection process which TDOE uses to monitor project goals
and objectives. ETSU staff serves as the current evaluation
investigator.
- Do all schools within a school system have to implement
the CSH initiative within the first year of funding? No.
Larger school systems may begin the CSH initiative at five
or six schools and then expand to other schools in succeeding
years. It is important to set achievable goals, experience
success and then expand.
- What are some benefits of having a coordinated school
health program? A coordinated school health program
can help reduce absenteeism, reduce classroom behavior problems,
improve classroom performance and better prepare students to
be productive members of their community.
- What is the difference between the federally funded
CSH program and the state funded CSH program? The
CDC federally funded program provides infrastructure building
support to the state CSH team. These funds are used to provide
professional development and training for CSH coordinators
and their staff. The state CSH funds are used to provide local
school systems with grants to begin a CSH initiative. In addition,
state CSH funds are used to provide training and program evaluation
of all CSH initiatives.
- Is the CSH initiative different from the federal wellness
policy mandate? Yes. The CSH initiative is more
comprehensive and an actual funded grant program. The federal
wellness policy contains many elements that would be a part
of an effective coordinated school health initiative. There
are no grant funds set aside for implementation of the federal
wellness policy. Responsibility for the federal wellness policy
implementation resides primarily with school nutrition staff.
- Have there been other recent policy changes that affect
student health in Tennessee? Yes.
Throughout the CSH website you will find access to all rules,
regulations and standards that have been developed to address
student health. These policies address use of the school health
index, forming school health advisory committees as well as
specific physical education/physical activity and wellness
guidelines.
|
|
|
