BACKGROUND While it is a national priority to support the health and education of students, these sectors must better align, integrate, and collaborate to achieve this priority. This article summarizes the literature on the connection between health and academic achievement using the Whole School, Whole Community, and Whole Child (WSCC) framework as a way to address health-related barriers to learning. METHODS A literature review was conducted on the association between student health and academic achievement. RESULTS Most of the evidence examined the association between student health behaviors and academic achievement, with physical activity having the most published studies and consistent findings. The evidence supports the need for school health services by demonstrating the association between chronic conditions and decreased achievement. Safe and positive school environments were associated with improved health behaviors and achievement. Engaging families and community members in schools also had a positive effect on students' health and achievement. CONCLUSIONS Schools can improve the health and learning of students by supporting opportunities to learn about and practice healthy behaviors, providing school health services, creating safe and positive school environments, and engaging families and community. This evidence supports WSCC as a potential framework for achieving national educational and health goals.
Critical Connections: Health and Academics
Shannon L. Michael,Caitlin Merlo,C. E. Basch,K. Wentzel,H. Wechsler
Published 2015 in Journal of School Health
ABSTRACT
PUBLICATION RECORD
- Publication year
2015
- Venue
Journal of School Health
- Publication date
2015-10-06
- Fields of study
Medicine, Education
- Identifiers
- External record
- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
CITATION MAP
EXTRACTION MAP
CLAIMS
CONCEPTS
- academic achievement
Student educational performance outcomes used as the academic endpoint in the review.
Aliases: school achievement, academic outcomes
- chronic conditions
Ongoing health conditions in students that can affect participation and school functioning.
Aliases: chronic illness, long-term conditions
- families and community members
Parents, caregivers, and community participants involved in supporting school activities and student well-being.
Aliases: family and community engagement, families and community
- health-related barriers to learning
Health-related factors that interfere with students' ability to learn and participate in school.
Aliases: barriers to learning
- physical activity
Body movement and exercise behavior discussed as a student health behavior linked to school outcomes.
Aliases: exercise, PA
- safe and positive school environments
School settings characterized by safety, support, and a positive climate for students.
Aliases: positive school climate, safe school environment
- school health services
Health services provided in schools to address student health needs and support learning.
Aliases: school-based health services
- student health behaviors
Health-related behaviors of students considered in relation to school outcomes, such as activity and other wellness practices.
Aliases: student health behavior
- whole school, whole community, and whole child (wscc) framework
An integrated school health framework that aligns school, community, and child supports around student well-being and learning.
Aliases: WSCC framework, Whole School Whole Community and Whole Child framework