Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Rebecca Nelson, MS, American Association of School Administrators, 801 N. Quincy Street, Suite 700, Arlington, VA 22203, 703-875-0759, rnelson@aasa.org

School leaders know that numerous factors affect student academic achievement. Children cannot learn if they are hungry. They cannot learn if their teeth hurt. And children cannot learn if they cannot breathe. Over 14 million school days are missed each year due to asthma. These are days that students are not spending in the classroom learning. Public school superintendents make decisions every day that impact the health of children and youth in their school district and, with the No Child Left Behind legislation firmly in place, student attendance and well-being is even more important to those who occupy the top seat. This interactive discussion will explore how school district leaders work with health agencies and others in their community to keep children with asthma in school and learning. Participants will have the opportunity to examine this national snapshot of powerful practices and policies school districts are implementing. They will go home with an assessment tool to use with school districts in their own community that addresses the management of asthma in children and a policy document they may use to engage their local superintendent and school board members.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify powerful practices and policies used in school districts across the country on effectively managing asthma
• Learn how to assess your school district’s efforts to reduce absenteeism among schoolchildren with asthma management practices
• Identify school districts that have made this issue a priority
• Understand the relationship between poor asthma management and the health, well-being, and achievement of children.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No