Health

Learn more about how the physical well-being of students and staff impact schools
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
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Student Well-Being & Movement 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.
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Student Well-Being & Movement 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 & Movement 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
A sign posted at The Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Wash., warns patients and visitors of a measles outbreak on Jan. 30, 2019.
A sign posted at The Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Wash., warns patients and visitors of a measles outbreak on Jan. 30, 2019. A new outbreak has flared in Oregon this summer, and cases have been detected in 25 states and the District of Columbia.
Gillian Flaccus/AP
Student Well-Being & Movement Measles Outbreaks Have More Than Tripled. How Schools Can Help
Getting more parents to vaccinate their children means leaning into relationships. Most states offer resources, too.
Sarah D. Sparks, July 29, 2024
3 min read
Photo of a diverse group of elementary children swimming with floats in a swimming pool with their Black male instructor behind them watching.
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Student Well-Being & Movement How School Districts Nationwide Can Build Water Safety for Students
Take a look at how these districts help prepare students for the water by providing water safety and swim lessons for their students.
Isaiah Hayes, July 24, 2024
5 min read
FILE - The Supreme Court is seen under stormy skies in Washington, June 20, 2019. In the coming days, the Supreme Court will confront a perfect storm mostly of its own making, a trio of decisions stemming directly from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a case about a state law that bars certain medical care for transgender minors, with the legal issues holding potential implications for schools.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Case on Transgender Youth Medical Care May Impact Schools
The justices will decide whether a Tennessee law that bars certain treatments for transgender minors violates the equal-protection clause.
Mark Walsh, June 24, 2024
5 min read
A menstrual product dispenser inside a women's restroom in Purdue University Stewart Center on Feb. 6, 2020, in West Lafayette, Ind. More than half of the states have legislation on the books either requiring products be stocked in schools, or provide funding to purchase them.
A menstrual product dispenser inside a women's restroom in Purdue University Stewart Center on Feb. 6, 2020, in West Lafayette, Ind. Legislation in a number of states seeks to provide more access to pads and tampons for students in K-12 schools.
Nikos Frazier/Journal & Courier via AP
Equity & Diversity States That Require Period Products for Free in Schools
More and more states are either requiring K-12 schools to stock pads and tampons, or provide funding for schools to do so.
Brooke Schultz, June 10, 2024
1 min read
Photograph of hygienic tampons and a sanitary pad on a blue background.
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Equity & Diversity More Schools Stock Tampons and Pads, But Access Is Still a Problem
Period products are becoming more commonplace in schools. But there are gaps in funding—and in access, a barrier for lower-income students.
Brooke Schultz, June 10, 2024
7 min read
Stylized illustration of an alarm clock over a background which is split in half, with one half being nighttime and one half being daytime.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
Student Well-Being & Movement What the Research Says Inconsistent Sleep Patterns in High School Linked to Academic Struggles
New study finds adolescents' varied sleep habits can hurt learning.
Sarah D. Sparks, April 5, 2024
3 min read
The injectable drug Ozempic is shown on July 1, 2023, in Houston.
The injectable drug Ozempic is shown in July in Houston.
David J. Phillip/AP
Budget & Finance Ozempic and Other Pricey Drugs Cause Headaches for Schools
Districts are struggling to find cheap and accessible alternatives to expensive medications for staff as insurance and drug costs rise.
Mark Lieberman, March 29, 2024
5 min read
This image provided by Novo Nordisk in January 2023, shows packaging for the company's Wegovy medication. The popular weight-loss drug, which has helped millions of Americans shed pounds, can now be used to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attacks and other serious cardiovascular problems in patients who are overweight or who have obesity, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday, March 8, 2024.
The federal Food and Drug Administration in December 2022 approved Wegovy, an obesity treatment, for children as young as 12. Weight-loss drugs have been a popular topic of conversation on social media and teens have been paying attention, feeding into concerns <ins data-user-label="Matt Stone" data-time="03/18/2024 9:57:35 AM" data-user-id="00000185-c5a3-d6ff-a38d-d7a32f6d0001" data-target-id="">that </ins>adolescents, particularly girls, have long had about body image.
Novo Nordisk via AP
Student Well-Being & Movement Weight-Loss Drugs Are the Talk of Social Media, and Teens Are Listening
Weight-loss drugs' popularity are feeding into the concerns that teenagers, particularly girls, have long had about body image.
Caitlynn Peetz Stephens, March 18, 2024
5 min read
Image shows a multi-tailed arrow hitting the bullseye of a target.
DigitalVision Vectors/Getty
Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion How Bad Journalism Encourages Bad Education Research
Favorable accounts of lackluster studies corrode the credibility of both researchers and reporters.
Rick Hess, March 11, 2024
3 min read
Woman applying "Welcome Back" sign to the school entrance
Leo Patrizi/E+/Getty Images
Student Well-Being & Movement CDC Recommends Shorter Isolation Period for COVID-19
Under the new guidance, students won't need to stay home from school for 5 days.
Sarah D. Sparks, March 1, 2024
3 min read