Variation in school health policies and programs by demographic characteristics of US schools

To understand the relationship between demographic characteristics of schools and school health policies and programs, this study analyzed data from the School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2000. SHPPS 2000 provides nationally representative data on eight components of school health. Data were collected from school faculty and staff using onsite, computer-assisted personal interviews, then linked with extant data on school characteristics. Results from a series of regression analyses indicated that the presence of most policies and programs examined differed according to school type (public, private, or Catholic), urbanicity, school enrollment size, per-pupil expenditure, percentage of White students and, among high schools, percentage of college-bound students. No one type of school, however, was more likely than another type to have all key aspects of a school health program in place. Regardless of school characteristics, all schools are capable of implementing quality school health programs.