Stephanie Nixon and Adriane Tasco
In 2004, the Indianapolis Public Schools selected T.C. Howe Academy to participate in the field test of the Creating a Healthy School Using the Healthy School Report Card-an ASCD Action Tool (HSRC). Howe had been a longtime participant in workshops and continued to have identified areas for growth. Additionally, they were already a part of the CDC Coordinated School Health Program, which made the school a great candidate to be selected as a funded pilot site in 2006.
T.C. Howe is located in urban area in Indianapolis where students are exposed to more risky behavior than many adults on a daily basis. Domestic violence, drug use, violent crimes, and poor health habits have had a considerable effect on the success of students (Indianapolis Star, May 14, 2003). Prior to implementing the HSRC the students were not even meeting the 50th percentile on the state standardized assessments (ISTEP) during the 2004-2005 school year. It was evident that these students needed more support than classroom instruction. The school realized the importance in giving the students resources and the opportunity for them to help themselves meet their basic needs.
The team embarked on a journey to make their students more ready to learn by really looking at the development of the whole child. They used the HSRC to help assess their current situation, implement positive change, and renew their commitment to student success. They began by selecting a team that included more than just faculty members. The Howe HSRC team included a parent, nurse practitioner, psychologist, and a district level coordinator.
The team divided the characteristics among the group and began to compile data. Once they had completed the tool, it was clear where the deficiencies were for T.C. Howe. The team was then able to formulate long and short range goals for each characteristic of the HSRC that had the highest and most urgent need. This allowed the school to experience a relatively immediate impact on the environment with expending the least amount of time for implementation. Also, the tool has helped the school and team to track the progress of changes that are being made. The tool is used frequently to reassess the changing needs of the students. The collected data is the determining factor for change and used for support when requesting funding.
As a result, the school had an increase in overall grade point average from 2005-2006, a change in vending machine selections to reflect healthier choices, and an increase in community involvement. Listed below are the programs that were developed to improve the overall health of the students:
- Learning Well Clinic - a collaboration with Community Health Network of Indianapolis. A nurse practitioner oversees the operation of the clinic. The clinic is available to the students as long as the parents have completed a consent form. The students can be diagnosed, receive medication, and have the option of going back to class. The Wellness Center provides a psychologist one day a week for the students. This service is by referral basis, but can be requested by a parent.
- Gallahue Mental Health Center provides the social and emotional support some of our students need.
- Smoking Cessation educates the students about the affects of smoking and the long term consequences of continued use of tobacco and an Educational approach to deter any violation of the no smoking policy during the school day on the premises.
- PE4Life School (1 of 6 in the nation) Howe has a state of the arts training center with the newest, most innovative exercise equipment and technology.
- FAST Club (Fitness, Academics, Success Together) addresses health awareness such as proper exercise and nutrition, and is open to any student who is willing to participate.
- Adventure Club seeks ways to introduce underserved students to physical activities, i.e. kayaking, skiing/snowboarding, and camping.
- Teen Parent Club is offered to expectant and teen parents (male and female).
- Mentors are provided through a partnership with Bingham-McHale, a law firm, for students who have lost a parent or are struggling in school.
In order for the HSRC to be implemented accurately, the team and external partners must be honest and open when using the tool. It is a disservice to the students if the team implements the tool without reaching out to other faculty, students, and community, to gain a cross-section of data. It is imperative that the entire school; not only team members, are aware of the assessment, and understand that they are involved in a change process. Efforts to make their school more healthy and their students more ready to learn must be done through partnerships in order to be effective. At times, there was discomfort but it was worth the minimal pain.
It takes funding to make many of the necessary changes. The HSRC can be a great source of identifying areas that need additional funding and gifts in-kind when the yearly budgeting and marketing process begins.