Health Education
This page provides you with information on curriculum, rules, and news. We welcome any suggestions you have that will improve this site for people who provide high-quality Health Education programs for students. Join our mailing list and receive updates.
The Division of Curriculum provides direction and leadership to health education programs that serve students from kindergarten through grade 12. Curriculum staff members assist districts statewide with implementation of the TEKS. They assist the instructional materials division with the materials adoption process for kindergarten through grade 12 health education.
Curriculum Standards
Health education standards may be found at Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Health Education 19 TAC Chapter 115.
Announcements
Frequently Asked Questions
Local assessment/testing and human sexuality instruction under Texas Education Code, Section 28.004
Texas Education Code, Section 28.004, prohibits the imposition of any academic penalty on a student whose parent withholds the student from human sexuality instruction. The attached guidance provides insights into how those provisions interact with the use of local assessments or testing for a course or subject that includes instruction in human sexuality.
Behavior Health, Mental Health, and Suicide Prevention Training for Educators
Health and Safety Code §161.325 (outside source) states that the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in coordination with TEA and regional education service centers (ESCs), shall provide and annually update a list of recommended best practice-based programs for implementation in public elementary, junior high, middle, and high schools within the general education setting. DSHS, TEA, and each ESC is required to make the list easily accessible on their websites. For more information about the list of recommended programs and other resources, please visit the Mental Health and Behavioral Health web page.
Health Education Related Links
The following links are about health education:
- Coordinated School Health Programs
- Correspondence Regarding Middle and Junior High School Health Education Instruction and Coordinated School Health Programs
Alcohol and Drugs
- Health Education TEKS Aligned to Fentanyl Abuse Prevention and Drug Poisoning Awareness
- Evidence-based Prescription Drug Awareness Programs
- Evidence-based Programs for Alcohol Awareness
- Office of National Drug Control Policy (outside source)
Nutrition
- Choose My Plate.gov (outside source)
- Dietary Guidelines (outside source)
- Square Meals (outside source)
Additional School Health Related Links
- Adolescent and School Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (outside sources)
- Local School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) and Health Education Instruction (TEC) (outside source)
- National Health Education Standards PreK-12 (outside source)
- Parenting and Paternity Awareness (outside source)
- Texas School Health Advisory Council (TSHAC) (outside source)
- Texas Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) (outside source)
Agencies and Organizations
- Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) (outside source)
- Texas Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (TAHPERD) (outside source)
- Texas Department of Agriculture (outside source)
- Texas Department of State Health Services (outside source)
Resources about HIV and AIDS
This document provides you with information on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Prevention Resources (PDF, 88KB).
This page provides Instructional Materials (PDF, 626KB) about HIV and AIDS.
Relating to the Care of Elementary and Secondary School Students with Diabetes
House Bill (HB) 984 (79th Legislature) amends the Health and Safety Code by adding Chapter 168, Care of Students with Diabetes. This chapter requires school personnel to be trained on diabetes and its management to include hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
Students with Diabetes Related Links
The following links provide information on diabetes:
- American Diabetes Association (outside source)
- Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention-Diabetes Public Health Resources (outside source)
- Guidelines for Training School Employees Who Are Not Licensed Healthcare Professionals (outside source)
- Health and Safety Code, Subtitle H, Chapter 168, Care of Students with Diabetes (outside source)
- Texas Diabetes Council (outside source)
- Texas Risk Assessment for Type 2 Diabetes in Children (outside source)
- Implementation Guide
Curriculum Standards and Student Support
(512) 463-9581
For questions or additional information, please submit a Curriculum Request Form through the TEA Help Desk.
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Enrichment Team
Debra Dorman
Enrichment Director
Barney Fudge
Health and Physical Education Specialist
Weston Scholten
Enrichment Specialist