The History of CSH

The Office of Coordinated School Health (OCSH) was established by the Tennessee Department of Education in February 2001. The primary mission of the office is to improve student health outcomes as well as support the connection between good health practices, academic achievement and lifetime wellness. The OCSH partners with the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of School Health. With the passage of T.C.A. Section 49-1-1002 in 2000, authorization and funding for CSH was established. Additional funding has been provided by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Coordinated School Health is a national model that is making an impact on children’s health. The coordinated school health model was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1988. The CDC has funded over 20 states to support the development of coordinated school health initiatives. With the passage of T.C.A. 49-1-1002, The Coordinated School Health Improvement Act of 2000, authorization and funding for CSH was established in Tennessee. State funding provided support for ten pilot sites. In 2006, Public Chapter 1001, the Coordinated School Health Expansion and Physical Activity Law, established authority and funding ($15 million) to expand CSH statewide. The law created a Physical Education Specialist and a Coordinator of School Health position within the Tennessee Department of Education and mandated 90 minutes of physical activity in grades K-12. By July 1, 2007, all Tennessee public school systems implemented coordinated school health for the 2007-2008 school year. Additional funding has been provided to the Office of Coordinated School Health by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Eight Components of Coordinated School Health

Tennessee Department of Education