In order to be approved by the superintendent of public instruction, each public and nonpublic elementary and middle school shall provide to students instruction in:

1. English language arts, including reading, composition, creative writing, English grammar, and spelling.
2. Mathematics.
3. Social studies, including: a. The United States Constitution; b. United States history; c. Geography; d. Government; and e. North Dakota studies, with an emphasis on the geography, history, and agriculture of this state, in the fourth and eighth grades.
4. Science, including agriculture.
5. Physical education.
6. Health, including physiology, hygiene, disease control, and the nature and effects of alcohol, tobacco, and narcotics.

The Standard in this document provide guidance for teachers delivering instruction in Health Education. The Standard and accompanying benchmarks are presented in five grade bands (K-2, 3-5, 6, 7-8, 9-12). Grade banding provides flexibility to those delivering instruction while recognizing the diversity present within school structure. It is the expectation of this document that students meet the designated benchmarks by the end of each grade band. In addition to the eight content Standard and correlating benchmarks, this document also provides annotations for each grade band with possible content, resources or assessment ideas that can be utilized in a school district's health curriculum.