Schools play a critical role in addressing the physical, emotional, social, and environmental factors related to health and well-being that can affect learning. Schools that adopt a coordinated approach to planning and problem-solving to meet students' needs are more likely to position them for success in school and throughout their lifetimes.

CDC Resources

Employee Wellness Guide
Fostering the physical and mental health of school employees helps to support student's health and academic success.

Virtual Healthy School
CDC’s Virtual Healthy School (VHS) is an interactive tool that shows schools how to support students' health and academic achievement. This tool relies on the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework, shown below. 

Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC)
WSCC is the CDC’s framework for addressing health in schools. It also emphasizes the connections between health and academic achievement and the importance of evidence-based school policies and practices.

Other Resources

Role of the School Nurse in Providing School Health Services - American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
A position statement from the AAP recognizing the important role of school nurses.

Health in Mind Report: Improving Education through Wellness
Present recommendations from the Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) and Trust for America's Health (TFAH), which focus on supporting schools in addressing health and wellness to improve student learning and achievements.

NASN Improving Care Coordination for Students with Chronic Health Conditions Toolkit
National Association of School Nurses resources to support the school nurse leadership role in building school communities through collaboration with state and local health and education leaders. Advancing the leadership role of school nurses optimizes the health and learning of students with chronic health conditions.

• • School Wellness

School Administrators and School Boards

American School Health Association
Contains articles that provide concrete actions that district and building administrators and school boards can take to support this approach to enhance learning and health.

See Also:

• School Health Services | Policies | Practices | Standards Resource Page

Page Updated 5/12/25