A Comparative Study of Texas and Other States Regarding School Health Educator Qualifications

Qualified school health educators are critical in educating the youth about diseases and disease prevention. The School Health Profiles, School Health Policies and Programs Study 2006, Texas Education Agency, and Texas Legislature Online were used to compare Texas with other states in terms of school health educator qualifications, continuing education, and who teaches health education in schools. Texas should model policies that states, such as Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Utah, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia, have implemented. These states have polices in place that require health education teachers to obtain the Certified Health Education Specialist credential (CHES). The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing requires CHES to obtain health specific continuing education training.