SHAC

What is SHAC?

• The school board shall create a School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) as defined in Texas Education Code (TEC), Chapter 28, Section (SEC) §28.004.

• The SHAC assists the district to ensure that local community values are reflected in the district's health education instruction.

• The SHAC provides guidance to the district on coordinated school health programming (curriculum) and its impact on student health and learning.

SHAC Membership

• The board of trustees shall appoint at least five members to SHAC.

• A majority of members must be parents of students enrolled in the district, and not Huffman ISD employees.

• One of the parent members must be chair or co-chair.

Board of Trustees may also appoint one or more members from the following groups:

• District employed teachers
• Or a representative from a group other than a group listed above
• Local domestic violence program
• Nonprofit health organization
• Clergy
• Senior citizens
• Law enforcement
• Business community
• Health care professionals
• District students
• District employed school administrators
• District employed counselors

SHAC Responsibilities

SHAC makes policy recommendations to the school board on a wide variety of issues regarding student health in district programming and curriculum, including:

1. Recommend the number of hours of instruction to be provided in:

• K-8 health education; and
• if the school district requires health education for high school graduation, health education, including physical health education (9-12), and
• mental health education (9- 12);

2 Recommend policies, procedures, strategies, and curriculum appropriate for specific grade levels designed to prevent

3 Physical health concerns (includes obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Type 2 diabetes), and

• Mental health concerns (including suicide)

• Recommend strategies for integrating health curriculum components in a coordinated school health program for the district; if feasible, joint use agreements or strategies for collaboration between the district and community organizations or agencies;

• • Recommend strategies to increase parental awareness regarding

    • risky behaviors and early warning signs of suicide risks and behavioral health concerns, (including mental health disorders and substance use disorders) Tex. Educ. Code § 28.004(c).

  • Recommend appropriate grade levels and methods of instruction for human sexuality instruction.

• • Recommend appropriate grade levels and curriculum for instruction regarding

    • Opioid addiction and abuse and methods of administering an opioid antagonist (as defined by Section 483.101, Health and Safety Code)

      • Child abuse

      • Family violence

      • Dating violence

      • Sex trafficking, (including warning signs that a child may be at risk for sex trafficking) Tex. Educ. Code § 28.004(c)(3), (c)(8).

 

*SHAC recommendations must not conflict with required Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum.