Effective July 1, 2003, the Mississippi Legislature authorized the local school board of each school district to establish a local school health/physical education advisory council to assist the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in the district’s health and physical education instruction.

These councils may recommend the number of hours of instruction to be provided in health education; and recommend health education curriculum appropriate for specific grade levels that may include a coordinate health education program designed to prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Type II diabetes through coordination of:

1.                  Health education

2.                  Physical education

3.                  Nutritional services

4.                  Parental involvement

5.                  Instruction to prevent the use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol.

The local school board shall appoint members to the local schoolhealth/physical education advisory council. 

The school board is to appoint one person from each of the following groups:

Parents who are not employed by the school district

Public school teachers

Public school administrators

District students

Health care professionals

The business community

Law enforcement

Senior citizens

Clergy

Nonprofit health organizations

Faith-based organization.

For additional information on how to set up a council, contact MASH, the American Cancer Society, or visit the website for an organizational model at www.tdh.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/sch_net.htm

In Mississippi, a selection of schools and/or school districts that are organizing or have organized School Health Advisory Councils:

McComb School District

Brookhaven School District

Grenada School District

Tunica School District

Forrest County School District

Sunflower School District