Every school district in Texas is required by
state law to have a SHAC.
This section summarizes the law as it pertains to SHACs. For
more information, the
entire Texas Education Code (TEC), the
state statute that governs public schools in
Texas, can be
obtained on line at
http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/ed.toc.htm in CHAPTER
28.004—Local School Health Advisory Council and Health Education
Instruction.
The school board or board of trustees in every Texas school
district must establish a SHAC to assist the district in ensuring
that local community values are reflected in the district's
health education instruction. The district must consider SHAC
recommendations before changing the district’s health education
curriculum or instruction.
A
majority of the members must be
persons who are parents of students enrolled in the district and who are not employed by the district.
A SHAC has 4 main duties include recommending:
(1) the number of hours of instruction to be provided in health education;
(2) appropriate curriculum for specific grade levels designed to
prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease, and Type 2 diabetes through coordination of:
(A) health education;
(B) physical education and physical activity;
(C) nutrition services;
(D) parental involvement;and
(E) instruction to prevent the use of tobacco;
(3) appropriate grade levels and methods of instruction for human sexuality
instruction; and
(4) strategies for integrating the curriculum components specified by Subdivision with
the following elements in a coordinated school health program for the district:
(A) school health services;
(B) counseling and guidance services;
(C) a safe and healthy school environment; and
(D) school employee wellness.
The board of trustees also may appoint one or more persons from each of the following
groups or a representative from a group other than a group specified under this subsection:
(1) public school teachers;
(2) public school administrators;
(3) district students;
(4) health care professionals;
(5) the business community;
(6) law enforcement;
(7) senior citizens;
(8) the clergy; and
(9) nonprofit health organizations.
