All students are required to complete one (1) unit of physical education and one (1) unit of health prior to graduation.

5.4.a. High School Programming (Grades 9-12)

Health

1 credit

Health 9-12 (WVEIS course 6909)

WVCCRS for Wellness Education promote wellness concepts that build the foundation for health literacy and an appreciation for lifelong physical fitness. Students will learn to adopt healthy behaviors. This is a lifelong process of enhancing the components of health education (physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual and environmental), physical education (movement forms, motor skill development and fitness) and physical activity, an important factor in brain development and learning. The WVCCRS for Wellness Education identify what students should know, understand, and be able to do in practicing skills and behaviors that apply to healthy lifestyles. College- and career-readiness is supported in wellness education as students acquire and further develop self-responsibility, motivation, and excellence in learning as well as life-long commitment to wellness.

Health Education - The goal of health education is to provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to lead healthy lifestyles; this is often referred to as health literacy. Health literacy is an important measure of the effectiveness of health education and is critical to ensuring that students have the ability to be healthy throughout their lives. Health-literate people are able to address their own health needs along with the needs of others. They are able to obtain and apply knowledge and skills to enhance their own health and the health of others now and in the future as their needs change throughout their lives

The state board shall cause to be taught in all of the public schools of this state the subject of health education, including instruction in any of the grades six through twelve as considered appropriate by the county board, on: (1) The prevention,transmission and spread of acquired immune deficiency syndrome and other sexually transmitted diseases; (2) substance abuse, including the nature of alcoholic drinks and narcotics, tobacco products and other potentially harmful drugs, with special instruction as to their effect upon the human system and upon society in general; (3) the importance of healthy eating and physical activity to maintaining healthy weight; and (4) education concerning cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid, including instruction in the care for conscious choking, and recognition of symptoms of drug or alcohol overdose. The course curriculum requirements and materials for the instruction shall be adopted by the state board by rule in consultation with the Department of Health and Human Resources. The state board shall prescribe a standardized health education assessment to be administered within health education classes to measure student health knowledge and program effectiveness.