Increasing Academic Achievement by Addressing Student Health

February 24, 2010 – A new California Endowment brief describes how students’ health can impact their educational achievement and the steps policymakers can take to better address student health in schools. 

The brief shows how a number of health conditions make a direct impact on students’ ability to learn.  For instance, asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism and accounts for three times more lost school days than any other cause.  In addition, it outlines the difference schools can make in addressing students’ health issues, what policymakers can do, and next steps.

According to the brief, schools can influence students’ health and academic achievement simply because schools are where young people spend a large part of their day for nine months of the year.   Examples of the effectiveness of “education supports” that help ensure the health of students are provided, many of which have little to no cost, including that receiving school-based mental health services has been shown to reduce course failures and dropout rates.

The brief also lists ways to strengthen “education supports” to improve health and academic achievement such as by collecting and analyzing health and education data to use when making policy and budget decisions; preventing chronic conditions including asthma, obesity, diabetes, and stress; promoting or mandating physical activity; and establishing school-based health centers.  In addition, it outlines ways to improve health and academic achievement through a healthy social environment by, for instance, holding students to high academic expectations; involving students in meaningful participation; and encouraging caring adults in schools and the community to establish and nurture positive relationships with students.

It concludes by including a list of short-term and long-term investments and policies that can be established by state and local policymakers to ensure that students are healthy and ready to learn including:  supporting policies and programs that document and remove asthma risk factors from schools such as furry animals, water leaks and mold; and developing school-community partnerships that encourage service providers to use schools as sites for coordinated services that meet students’ needs for health, mental health and oral health services. 

To access this brief, click here.

Source:  “The Critical Connection between Student Health and Academic Achievement: How Schools and Policymakers Can Achieve a Positive Impact,” The California Endowment, January 2010.