The instructional foundation for Alabama’s K-12 health education program addresses content that incorporates National Health Education Standards, the six dimensions of health, and the six priority health-risk behaviors that most influence adolescent health as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The 2008-2009 Health Education State Course of Study Subcommittee extensively used the National Health Education Standards: Achieving Excellence, the Alabama Course of Study: Health Education (Bulletin 2003, No. 5), and reports published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in developing the minimum required content.