Health Education Programs in New Jersey Public Schools*

A mail survey of school health education programs in New Jersey was completed in 1977 by 45% of the public schools. The survey findings suggest that the 1973 resolution of the State Board of Education, designed to promote a more comprehensive approach to health education in New Jersey schools, has by no means been uniformly implemented. The comprehensive approach to health education has developed slowly at the elementary school level and in the least affluent and more heavily populated school districts, particularly those with the highest minority group enrollment. Increasing trends in teenage pregnancy, venereal disease and substance abuse suggest that the current approaches to health education have not been effective. More research and evaluation is needed to identify the most effective means of promoting positive health practices at an early age.