Kentucky Department of Education Division of Program Resources
School Health Education Profiles (SHEPS) 2002

School Health Education Profiles - Kentucky
Survey of Principals, 2000
Sample Size - 286 (71.3%) of 401 Principals Surveyed Responded

Health Education   Smoking    School Safety    HIV/AIDS Policies  

Health Education

Questions	Percent (%)
Health education is required in at least one of grades 6-12 in your school?	90
Number of required health education courses taught in grades 6-12 are:
No courses	13
1 course	60
2 courses	7
3 courses	16
4 or more courses	4
Required health education course is taught in grade:
6th	34
7th	44
8th	44
9th	72
10th	16
11th	9
12th	10
Percent of students excused from any part of a required health education course by parental consent:
Students cannot be exempted or excused	50
< 1%	31
1% to 5%	4
6% or more	0.4
Don't know	14
Ways in which required health education courses are taught:
Combined health and PE course	76
In a course mainly about another subject other than health education	19
Who coordinates health education:
No one	1
District administrator	3
District health education or curriculum coordinator	3
School administrator	26
Health education teacher	58
School nurse	1
other	8
School or district has a school health committee or advisory group on health education:	34
Parental feedback about health education received during the school year:
No feedback	52
Mainly positive feedback	42
Mainly negative feedback	0
Equally balanced between positive and negative feedback	6

Smoking

Questions	Percent (%)
School has adopted a policy prohibiting smoking by students:	97
Non-smoking policy for students specifically prohibits smoking in these areas (for schools with non-smoking policies):
In school buildings	100
On school grounds	98
In school buses	100
At off-campus, school-sponsored events	85
Actions sometimes or always taken when student is caught smoking cigarettes (for schools with non-smoking policies):
Referred to school counselor	53
Referred to a school administrator	99
Encouraged but not required to participate in an assistance, education, or cessation program	52
Required to participate in an assistance, education, or cessation program	25
Referred to legal authorities	10
Placed in detention	66
Given in-school suspension	80
Suspended from school	69
Expelled	5
Reassigned to an alternative school	20
Parents or guardians informed	98
School has a policy specifically prohibiting:
Smoking (student use)	97
Smokeless tobacco (student use)	94
Cigars (student use)	91
Pipes (student use)	90
Cigarettes (faculty and staff)	59
Smokeless tobacco (faculty and staff)	58
Cigars (faculty and staff)	58
Pipes (faculty and staff)	58
Tobacco advertising in the school building	93
Tobacco advertising on school grounds	92
Tobacco advertising on school buses	92
Tobacco advertising in school publications	93
Tobacco advertising through sponsorship of school events	87
Tobacco brand-name apparel or merchandise (wearing or carrying by students)	84
School posts signs designating a tobacco-free school zone:	38

School Safety

Questions	Percent (%)
School safety measures:
Visitors are required to report to the main office or reception area upon arrival	100
Maintains a "closed campus" where students are not allowed to leave during the school day	95
Staff or adult volunteers monitor the halls	94
Routinely conduct bag, desk, or locker checks	63
Prohibit students from carrying backpacks or book bags at school	39
Require students to wear school uniforms	11
Require students to wear ID badges	10
Use metal detectors	20
Have uniformed police, undercover police, or security guards during the regular school day	43
Written plan for responding to violence at the school	98
School has or participates in the following programs:
Peer mediation program	58
Safe-passage to school program	10
Gang violence prevention program	29
Bullying prevention program	37

HIV/AIDS Policies

Questions	Percent (%)
School has a written policy on protecting students and/or staff with HIV/AIDS:	26
For schools with a written HIV/AIDS policy, this policy addresses:
Attendance of students with HIV/AIDS	81
Procedures to protect HIV-infected students and staff from discrimination	86
Maintaining confidentiality of HIV-infected students and staff	92
Worksite safety (universal precautions for all school staff)	95
Confidential counseling for HIV-infected students	77
Communication of the policy to students, school staff, and parents	74
Adequate training about HIV infection for school staff	91
Procedures for implementing the policy	88