SHAPE America is a proud member of the coalition that developed the National Health Education Standards (NHES), which were released in 1995 and revised in Spring 2007. In 2020, SHAPE America obtained the copyright to the National Health Education Standards. SHAPE America's National Health Education Standards Task Force is currently revising and updating the standards.
Standard 1: Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health.
Standard 2: Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors.
Standard 3: Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information and products and services to enhance health.
Standard 4: Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks.
Standard 5: Students will demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health.
Standard 6: Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health.
Standard 7: Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks.
Standard 8: Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, and community health.
Citation: Joint Committee on National Health Education Standards. (2007). National Health Education Standards, Second Edition: Achieving Excellence. Washington, D.C.: The American Cancer Society. * SHAPE America holds all rights to the National Health Education Standards, including all revisions and/or derivatives. Written permission from SHAPE America is required to use these standards in other works.
The Crosswalk for the National Health Education Standards and the CASEL Social and Emotional Learning Competencies (Health Education/SEL Crosswalk) document aligns CASEL’s SEL competencies and related skills to the National Health Education Standards and Performance Indicators. Learn More >>
Are your students learning the skills necessary to make health-enhancing choices? Use these SHAPE America resources to help your students take charge of their own health. View Now >>
Updates on NHES Revision Process
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NHES Town Hall Meeting
In May 2021, SHAPE America hosted a National Health Education Standards Town Hall meeting to garner initial thoughts from the field about the revision process. Health educators and other school health education stakeholders were invited to provide direct feedback about potential changes to the NHES. Share your thoughts by completing this form.
Lesson Planning for Skills-Based Health Education offers 64 field-tested lesson plans, learning activities, and assessments for implementing a skills-based approach in your class.
An engaging three-day event you won't want to miss.