Align Students’ Health and Learning

The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model is a collaborative, holistic approach to strengthening learning and health in our nation’s schools. The model — developed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and ASCD, formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development — establishes a safe, protective and challenging environment for students to thrive in.

SHAPE America recommends that health and physical educators support schools’ use of the WSCC model as a framework to ensure students are healthy and successful academically.

Our new position statement shares how HPE teachers can support the WSCC model through best practices in health education, physical education and physical activity.
 

Health Education

• Implement a skills-based approach to delivering health education;
• Link the six risk behaviors that the CDC has identified as important tenets of instruction; and
• Align the school curriculum with the National Health Education Standards.

Physical Education & Physical Activity

• Establish a positive learning environment in the gym and classroom;
• Promote options for pursuing lifelong physical activity; and
• Adopt the comprehensive school physical activity program to provide students with opportunities for daily physical activity.