Health

Learn more about how the physical well-being of students and staff impact schools
Image of school lunch - Then and now
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Federal Then & Now Will RFK Jr. Reheat the School Lunch Wars?
Trump's ally has said he wants to remove processed foods from school meals. That's not as easy as it sounds.
Evie Blad, December 17, 2024
6 min read
Anjali Verma, 18, takes an online calculus class after her occupational therapy appointment at the Doylestown Library in Doylestown, Pa., on Dec. 5, 2024.
Anjali Verma, 18, takes an online calculus class after her occupational therapy appointment at the Doylestown Library in Doylestown, Pa., on Dec. 5, 2024.
Michelle Gustafson for Education Week
Student Well-Being What Do Schools Owe Students With Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Physicians say students with traumatic brain injuries can fall through the cracks when returning to school.
Brooke Schultz, December 16, 2024
8 min read
Illustration of a woman sitting on a front stoop in slippers and a mask that covers her mouth and nose.
Irina Shatilova/iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession Cold and Flu and Walking Pneumonia, Oh My! How Teachers Can Stay Healthy This Winter
Teachers are more vulnerable than other professions to colds and the flu. Experts talk about how to stay healthy.
Sarah D. Sparks, December 9, 2024
4 min read
Transgenders rights supporters rally outside of the Supreme Court, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024, in Washington.
Transgender rights supporters rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 4 as the court weighed a Tennessee law that restricts certain medical treatments for transgender minors.
Jose Luis Magana/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Case on Medical Care for Trans Youth Could Impact School Sports
The justices weigh a Tennessee law that bars certain medical treatments for transgender minors, with school issues bubbling around the case.
Mark Walsh, December 4, 2024
8 min read
A high school principal displays vaping devices that were confiscated from students in such places as restrooms or hallways at a school in Massachusetts on April 10, 2018.
A high school principal in Massachusetts displays vaping devices that were confiscated from students in restrooms or hallways on April 10, 2018.
Steven Senne/AP
Law & Courts How a Supreme Court Case on Vaping Stands to Impact Schools
The U.S. Supreme Court heard an important case about federal regulation of flavored e-cigarettes, which remain a concern for schools.
Mark Walsh, December 2, 2024
6 min read
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a campaign event, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 in Walker, Mich.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., speaks before President-elect Donald Trump at a campaign event on Sept. 27, 2024 in Walker, Mich. Trump has selected Kennedy to serve as secretary of health and human services in his second term.
Carlos Osorio/AP
Federal What Could RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary Mean for School Vaccine Requirements?
The vaccine skeptic in line to lead the mammoth federal agency could influence schools' vaccine rules, even though they're set by states.
Matthew Stone, November 15, 2024
6 min read
Illustration of a female student sitting at her desk and holding hands against her temples while swirls of pencils, papers, question marks, stars, and exclamation marks swirl around her head.
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being Download Traumatic Brain Injuries Are More Common Than You Think. Here's What to Know
Here's how educators can make sure injured students don't fall behind as they recover.
Brooke Schultz, November 12, 2024
1 min read
An empty classroom with chairs, desks, and a green chalkboard, illuminated by sunlight, evoking education concept. 3D Rendering
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being From Our Research Center Many Classrooms Lack Natural Light. Teachers Say That’s a Problem
Natural light is vital to the mental and physical health of students and teachers.
Arianna Prothero, September 30, 2024
5 min read
Closeup photo of a white adolescent exhaling smoke from an e-cigarette
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being Are Kids Still Vaping?
The FDA identifies a "monumental public health win," but there's still more work to do.
Lauraine Langreo, September 12, 2024
2 min read
A young Black girl with her head down on a stack of books at her desk in a classroom
E+/Getty
Student Well-Being Don’t Just Blame Social Media for Kids’ Poor Mental Health—Blame a Lack of Sleep
Research shows that poor sleep leads to poor mental health—a link that experts say is overshadowed by the frenzy over social media.
Arianna Prothero, September 6, 2024
5 min read
Assembly member Lori Wilson, Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, attends a meeting of the California legislature on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif.
Assembly member Lori Wilson attends a meeting of the California legislature on Monday, Aug. 5, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif. Wilson sponsored a student proposal for a menstrual education curriculum, which passed the state Senate on Aug. 28 and now goes to the Democratic governor.
Juliana Yamada/AP
Equity & Diversity Another State Could Mandate Period Education. Will It Catch On?
Few states mandate menstrual education, as lawmakers nationally scrutinize what can be discussed about gender in the classroom.
Brooke Schultz, September 3, 2024
5 min read
Person being helped from a pill bottle by a healthcare provider
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being Teen Substance Use Is Declining, But More Dangerous Drug Abuse Is Emerging
There are rising concerns about teens' access to more lethal drugs such as fentanyl.
Lauraine Langreo, August 28, 2024
3 min read
Image of athletes in a team huddle.
E+
Student Well-Being 6 Ways for Schools to Promote Student-Athletes' Well-Being
Student-athletes may want to further their athletic careers after graduation, and educators can support them both academically and mentally.
Isaiah Hayes, August 12, 2024
6 min read
A student races to the school bus after dismissal, Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Tri-Point Elementary and Junior High School in Piper City, Ill.
A student races to the school bus after dismissal on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at Tri-Point Elementary and Junior High School in Piper City, Ill. A new report illustrates how the oldest school buses in the nation are concentrated in districts with large low-income populations, contributing to poor air quality that can hurt students' academic performance.
Joshua A. Bickel/AP
Student Well-Being The Districts Where School Buses Emit the Most Toxic Fumes
Poor air quality hurts students' health and academic performance, research has shown, and diesel-powered buses are a contributor.
Mark Lieberman, August 6, 2024
6 min read