Healthy and Safe Schools

The Vermont Agency of Education believes that teaching and learning begins with all children and adults feeling safe, healthy and supported while at school. A successful school learning environment does not happen by chance, but is the result of a collective effort by the members of a school’s community. 

Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child

The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model focuses on youth by addressing critical education and health outcomes, organizing collaborative actions and initiatives that support students, and strongly engaging community resources. The WSCC approach is centered on supporting the needs of the whole child.is centered on supporting the needs of the whole child. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) have partnered to create the WSCC model, building upon aspects of the CDC’s familiar Coordinated School Health (CSH) model and the Whole Child Framework from the ASCD. 

Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model

Vermont School Wellness Policy Guidelines

Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model

  • Expands the 8 domains of the CSH model into 10 domains
  • Combines the CSH model with the ASCD’s Whole Child framework
  • Demonstrates integration of health and education to improve academic achievement
  • Promotes increased alignment, integration, and collaboration between health and education in order to achieve improved cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development

Comprehensive Health Webpages

Health Education focuses on the implementation of comprehensive Health Education programs defined by Vermont law (16 V.S.A. § 131), the Education Quality Standards, and State Board adopted National Health Education Standards.

Nutrition contains information about how federal Nutrition Programs are administered in Vermont in schools, childcare settings, summer program sites, and adult day centers. The Vermont Agency of Education provides program sponsors with guidance, technical assistance, training, monitoring and evaluation to ensure that every program receives the maximum federal and state funding available and operates in compliance with federal and state requirements.

Physical Activity includes the Physical Activity Guidelines for Vermont Schools - Active Students are Better Learners that helps school personnel interpret and implement physical activity requirements identified in the Education Quality Standards as well as resources to support physical activity program development.

Physical Education focuses on the implementation of Physical Education programs defined by Vermont law (16 V.S.A. § 136), the Education Quality Standards, and State Board adopted SHAPE America Physical Education Standards.

Sexual Health focuses on the implementation of Sexual Health Education programs as defined in Comprehensive Health Education (16 V.S.A. 131) as well as sexual health-related information and services that are available to promote student wellness and increase academic success.

Substance Abuse Prevention includes School-based Alcohol and Drug Prevention recommendations and resources for substance abuse prevention programs. Youth Risk Behavior Survey and Tobacco Grant information can also be found on this webpage.

Vermont Department of Health – Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child provides information and resources for school professionals. The Vermont Department of Health and the Agency of Education recommend using this model to achieve goals outlined in school continuous improvement plans and wellness policies and integrating it into a multi-tiered system of supports.