Teaching, Learning & Assessment » K-12 Standards & Instruction » Health Education

Instructional Resources

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Virginia's commitment to student well-being is reflected in its educational mandates.

Under § 22.1-207 of the Code of Virginia, public schools are required to provide regular instruction in health and physical education. This legislation ensures that students receive foundational knowledge and skills to support lifelong wellness.

The Virginia Department of Education, in conjunction with health and physical education leaders and teachers, are in the process of developing resources to support educators with the instruction of the 2020 Health Education Standards of Learning. These resources are designed to equip all students with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors needed to make informed health decisions, build personal and community well-being, and thrive in an increasingly complex world. These resources aim to support whole-child development by fostering health literacy, critical thinking, and student agency through innovative, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate instruction.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Standard 4. Student Achievement and Graduation Requirements 

Section D of § 22.1-253.13:4 of the Code of Virginia states that in establishing graduation requirements, the Board shall:

Hazing Prevention Resources 

The 2024 Resource Document for Hazing Prevention is provided to school divisions to make such research-based hazing prevention instruction available to school boards. HB719/SB379 from the 2024 General Assembly Legislative Session requires the Board of Education to develop Standards of Learning and curriculum guidelines for research-based hazing prevention instruction to be provided as a part of physical or health education instruction provided to students in 9th or 10th grade.

Opioid Overdose Prevention and Response Instructional Resources

In accordance with § 22.1-206.01 of the Code of Virginia, the VDOE, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health, has provided a repository of instructional resources intended to inform the development of division programs of instruction for Grades 9-12 on recognizing the signs of opioid overdose and the use of opioid antagonists (naloxone, Narcan) to reverse potentially life-threatening overdoses.  

Guidelines for Instruction on the Safe Use and Risks of Abuse of Prescription Drugs

Pursuant to House Bill 1532 (2018), the Code of Virginia was amended to include § 22.1-207 directing the Board of Education to develop curriculum guidelines for health instruction on the safe use of and risks of abuse of prescription drugs with approval from the State Board of Health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prescription drug misuse and abuse is a national epidemic and opioid abuse is now the leading cause of accidental deaths in the U.S. With one in five high school seniors reporting that they have misused prescription drugs, educators have an opportunity to innovate and build on evidence-based practices that elevate student voice and agency as reaching students early is now more important than ever.

The Guidelines for Instruction on the Safe Use and Risks of Abuse of Prescription Drugs include actionable recommendations to help school leadership plan strategically for optimizing health literacy, empowering teachers, and providing collaborative supports and resources so that all students acquire healthy, informed mature decision-making skills when it comes to prescription medications. These guiding principles also assist in implementing evidence-based curriculum aligned with the Health Education Standards of Learning. The Health Education Standards of Learning establish, promote, and support health-enhancing behaviors, and set clear, measurable goals that define the skills, knowledge and expectations for what students should know and be able to do to be prepared for life.

Guidelines for Instruction on Problem Gambling

Pursuant to Chapter 192 (2022 Acts of Assembly), instruction concerning gambling and the addictive potential thereof shall be provided by the public schools as prescribed by the Board of Education (hereinafter Board). In fulfillment of this requirement the Board provides the following Guidelines for Instruction on Problem Gambling are provided to the school divisions of the Commonwealth for instruction on how to recognize symptoms of problem gambling, preventing risky youth gambling and risky youth gaming, along with terminology, definitions, and resources to provide broad-based support and educate teachers and parents or guardians about problem gambling and the addictive potential thereof.

Title IX and Sexual Harassment Prevention Instructional Resources

In accordance with the Code of Virginia § 22.1-23.5, each school board may adopt policies requiring students in these grades to complete the training. Each school board shall also: 1) allow all such students to opt-out of participating in the completion the training modules by request of the student's parents if such student is under the age of 18, or by request of the student if such student is 18 years of age or older; and 2) ensure that all such students are provided information about school counseling services and the supportive measures and formal complaint procedures available to them, as required under Title IX (20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.), in the school they attend as part of the training modules developed pursuant to subsection B of § 22.1-23.5. The modules are designed to help students understand what constitutes sexual harassment, how to recognize prohibited conduct, and how to report concerns. The modules also explain students’ rights and schools’ responsibilities under Title IX. Students will explore the importance of consent, learn strategies to prevent sexual harassment, and understand how to report incidents effectively.  

Self-enroll through Virtual Virginia: Title IX and Sexual Harassment Prevention Instructional Resources. These modules are available for download through Canvas Commons.