School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)

A School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) is a group appointed by the school district to serve at the district level. Members of the SHAC come from different areas of the community and from within the school district. The majority of members must be parents who are not employed by the district. Texas law (Texas Education Code, Title 2, Subtitle F, Chapter 28, Subchapter A, §28.004) requires the establishment of a SHAC for every school district. SHACs are required to meet at least four times each year. SHACs assist the districts in ensuring that local community values are reflected in health education instruction. Additionally, SHACs play an important role in strengthening the connection between health and learning. They can help parents and community stakeholders reinforce the knowledge and skills children need to stay healthy for a lifetime.

House Bill 1525 – Relating to updated procedures in recommending human sexuality instruction curriculum and changes in meeting requirements to include posting a notice of the meeting, recording the meeting, and posting minutes to the school district website.

Senate Bill 9 – Relating to public school instruction and materials regarding the prevention of child abuse, family violence, dating violence, and sex trafficking and the adoption of public school policies to prevent dating violence.

Vision Statement: All RISD students will reach their full personal, health, and academic potential.

Mission Statement: The mission of the RISD SHAC is to ensure that all children grades PreK-12, will have healthy bodies and minds through sequential health education, practices, and modelling of good health behaviors.

Goal: The goal of the RISD SHAC is to advise RISD decision-makers regarding students’ needs and assets related to health knowledge and skills, regarding policies and procedures that impact student health, and regarding the health of the school environment. See TAC Education Code 28.004(a) for specific objectives and duties assigned.

Purpose: The purpose of the SHAC is to assist the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in the district’s health education instruction. Per Senate Bill 19, the district must consider the recommendations of the SHAC before making changes in the district’s health education curriculum or instruction. Specifically, in compliance with SB 19, SHAC will advise the Board of Trustees on the number of hours of instruction to be provided in health education; health education curriculum appropriate for specific grade levels that may include a coordinated health education program designed to prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Type II diabetes through coordination of:

Health education;
Physical education;
Nutritional services;
Parental involvement; and
Instruction to prevent the use of tobacco; and appropriate grade levels and methods of instruction for human sexuality instruction.
Other areas of concern as identified in SB 19.

The SHAC will make recommendations to the district on topics relating to health and the health education of RISD students and RISD employees. In advising the district, the SHAC will be guided by the 10 components of coordinated school health as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Association of State Boards of Education, the National Association of School Boards, and the American Cancer Society. These include 1. Health Education, 2. PE and Physical Activity, 3. Nutrition, Environment, and Food Services, 4. School Health Services, 5. Counseling, Psychology, and Social Services, 6. Social and Emotional Climate, 7. Physical Environment, 8. Employee Wellness, 9. Family Engagement, 10. Community Involvement