Health Education Standards
As part of the Maine Department of Education’s commitment to supporting schools in the delivery of effective kindergarten through diploma health education instructional programs, this page provides resources to support implementation of Maine’s health education standards. The State's health education standards are part of the Health Education and Physical Education Standards in the Maine Learning Results.
Maine based the development of its health education standards on the National Health Education Standards (NHES). How schools implement State standards is a local decision. The health education standards and performance expectations in the Maine Learning Results represent the essential knowledge and skills students need to be health literate and healthy individuals.
Every day, students make decisions affecting their health and well-being: what foods to eat, what company to keep, what risks to take and what to do for physical activity. These decisions often lead to habits that stay with them throughout life. Instruction guided by the health education standards will help students make better decisions about their health. Through achievement of the health education standards, students learn that their decisions can affect their health and set a pattern for their lives.
- Maine's Health Education Standards. The health education standards and performance expectations (Revised April 2022) for grades kindergarten through diploma are included in the Maine Learning Results.
The National Health Education Standards (NHES) are the framework for health education instruction and are designed to support schools in meeting the essential goal of enabling students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote personal, family and community health. The NHES document includes the standards and foundational information for effective health education curricula. It also provides teachers, administrators, parents and policy makers with guidance on designing or selecting curricula, allocating instructional resources and assessing student achievement and progress.
Note: The National Health Education Standards are under going revisions at this time by SHAPE America.
Contact
Susan Berry
Health Education and Health Promotion Specialist
Coordinated School Health Team/Office of School and Student Supports
(207) 215-1844
susan.berry@maine.gov