New Report Calls for Federal Action to Close Achievement Gap by Addressing School... -- WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
New Report Calls for Federal Action to Close Achievement Gap by Addressing School... -- WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
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Health in Mind Features Solutions to Public Education and Health Challenges
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Health in Mind,
a new report from Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) and Trust for
America's Health (TFAH), details immediate solutions that can help close
the achievement gap and create a healthy future for all children.
American
children are struggling academically and the nation faces a growing
achievement gap that is increasingly tied to health disparities—today's
children could become the first generation to live shorter and less
healthy lives than their parents, notes the report.
Health in Mind
offers a strong framework for addressing the nation's most urgent
health and education challenges by outlining strategies within the
current regulatory and budget framework of the Department of Education
and Department of Health and Human Services that the administration can
utilize to better the conditions for health and learning in schools. The
report also examines the research connecting health disparities with
educational outcomes and presents case studies of innovative
on-the-ground practices across the nation.
"We've
never met a parent, teacher or school leader who didn't recognize that
healthy students are better prepared to learn," said Rochelle Davis ,
President and CEO of HSC, a national advocacy organization that focuses
much of its work on improving the food and fitness environment in Chicago
schools. "But the truth is that vast health disparities exist in our
nation and far too many children attend school in environments that do
not support their health. Unless we address these challenges, our
efforts to close the achievement gap will be compromised. The
consequences are enormous for children's learning and for their lifetime
health."
Health in Mind presents research, policy analysis and immediate recommendations focused on:
- Preparing teachers and principals to promote student health and wellness;
- Engaging parents in school health;
- Incorporating health and wellness into school metrics, accountability and recognition programs;
- Building the Department of Education's capacity to address student health and wellness; and
- Placing a school nurse in every school.
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