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During a working lunch, representatives of national organizations briefed
participants on activities related to school health policies and programs.
James Bogden, Project Director with the National Association of State Boards
of Education, updated participants on the Friends of School Health, a coalition
of education, health, and safety NGOs who periodically meet with public policymakers
for educational purposes. Friends of School Health recently provided a two-hour
briefing for Capitol Hill staff on school health issues, which included presentations
by Federal agencies and academic institutions.
Ms. Howley discussed the “Wingspread Declaration on School Connectedness,” which
was based on a detailed review of research and in-depth discussions among an
interdisciplinary group of health and education leaders that convened on June
13, 2003, at the Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin.
As the Declaration states, “Students are more likely to succeed when
they feel connected to school.” School connection is defined as “the
belief by students that adults in the school care about their learning as well
as about them as individuals.” Health and education leaders developed
critical requirements for helping students feel connected to schools. These
requirements include:
- High academic expectations and rigor coupled with support for learning.
- Positive adult-student relationships.
- Physical and emotional safety.
Ms. Howley encouraged the participants to examine the declaration for ways
to “marry those twin goals of academic success and healthy outcomes for
kids.”
Martin Blank, Director of the Coalition for Community Schools, an alliance
of more than 160 national, State, and local organizations, gave an overview
of legislation related to the movement for creating community schools. A community
school features strong partnerships between the school and other community
resources and has an integrated focus on academics, services, supports, and
opportunities that can lead to improved student learning, stronger families,
and healthier communities. Mr. Blank highlighted the Full Services Community
Schools Act, which would provide incentives and financial support for community
school development.
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