California - HE K-12 curriculum—benefits of physical activity (HS): Curricula

California Education Code 51890.

(a) For the purposes of this chapter, “comprehensive health education programs” are defined as all educational programs offered in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, in the public school system, including in-class and out-of-class activities designed to ensure that:

• (1) Pupils will receive instruction to aid them in making decisions in matters of personal, family, and community health, to include the following subjects:
  • (A) The use of health care services and products.
  • (B) Mental and emotional health and development.
  • (C) Drug use and misuse, including the misuse of tobacco and alcohol.
  • (D) Family health and child development, including the legal and financial aspects and responsibilities of marriage and parenthood.
  • (E) Oral health, vision, and hearing.
  • (F) Nutrition, which may include related topics such as obesity and diabetes.
  • (G) Exercise, rest, and posture.
  • (H) Diseases and disorders, including sickle cell anemia and related genetic diseases and disorders.
  • (I) Environmental health and safety.
  • (J) Community health.
• (2) To the maximum extent possible, the instruction in health is structured to provide comprehensive education in health that includes all the subjects in paragraph (1).
• (3) The community actively participates in the teaching of health including classroom participation by practicing professional health and safety personnel in the community.
• (4) Pupils gain appreciation for the importance and value of lifelong health and the need for each individual to take responsibility for his or her own health.
• (5) School districts may voluntarily provide pupils with instruction on preventative health care, including obesity and diabetes prevention through nutrition education.