McIntosh Middle School's Coordinated School Health Program

Coordinated school health programs (CSHPs) provide a well-rounded approach to school health that includes health education, physical education, health services, nutrition services, health promotion for staff, counseling/psychological services, a healthy school environment, and parent and community involvement. In Sarasota, the principal of McIntosh Middle School, who was concerned about the impact of health problems on the attendance and performance of students and staff, committed the school to a three-year state program to establish a CSHP. Using CDC's School Health Index, the school's site-based team assessed the school's resources, developed an action plan, and integrated the CSHP into the school's operations and curriculum.

The goal of the CSHP is to improve learning, performance, and health for students and teachers.

Implementing a CSHP has generated access to additional resources for students and staff, improved school attendance, and increased the percentage of students who scored 3.0 or higher on a state-mandated writing assessment. In addition, the majority of students at McIntosh Middle School are Renaissance members, an honor that requires a grade point average of 3.0 or above and no referrals for discipline. The Florida Department of Education identified McIntosh as a Five-Star School with a state grade of "A," and the department also recognized the school as a "Sunshine State Success Story: Emphasizing Teaching Standards Through Health 2001-2002" for making wellness a cornerstone of its education.