Results of School Policies and Programs: Overview of Key Findings 2006

Publication Date:

Publisher:

Author(s): L.D. Johnston; P.M. O'Malley; J. Delva; J.G. Bachman; J.E. Schulenberg

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Abstract:

The School Policies and Programs Questionnaire was administered in a national sample of schools in order to collect information about how school policies and prevention programs affect young people's behavior and attitudes regarding alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) use. Questions about school activities and policies regarding physical education and nutrition were added in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to determine which policies and programs are most effective in reducing students' ATOD use and obesity levels and to inform policy-makers and school administrators of the results.



Today's school administrators face multiple challenges, from raising accountability and achievement standards to creating safe, drug-free learning environments and, more recently, to attending to the growing problem of obesity among youth. This report provides key findings from the Youth, Education, & Society (YES) study of school alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) prevention programs and school activities and policies concerning physical education (PE) and nutrition. The following are some of the highlights from the 2006 nationwide survey:



According to School Administrators Surveyed…



Intense monitoring of student behavior, less staff smoking and parental involvement all are associated with fewer reported ATOD problems. Student bodies in which African-American students are in the majority showed lower than average ATOD use.



* The majority of schools do teach ATOD prevention in the classroom, but respondents are fairly neutral about the judged effectiveness of most ATOD programs.
* The overall majority of schools (51%) require physical education (PE) for the target grade, but the percentage of schools that require PE varied considerably depending on grade level, with PE much less likely to be required in higher grades.
* Less than half of the schools reported that they give physical fitness tests to the students in their sampled grade.
* Most schools (79%) participate in the USDA reimbursable National School Lunch Program, but about one-third (35%) participate in the USDA-sponsored Team Nutrition program.
* High schools are more likely to have vending machines and school stores than middle schools, and middle schools are more likely than high schools to restrict access to vending machines.