Education and health are deeply connected
Educational attainment is associated with better lifelong health, and health contributes to educational achievement.
Optimal health, beginning in early childhood and continuing throughout the lifespan, is critical for educational success in kindergarten and beyond. Since health and learning are intertwined, strategies that support health in early childhood and in school settings improve educational and health outcomes for all Oregonians. Public health strategies and interventions support the State of Oregon’s 40/40/20 goal to improve the number of adults who graduate from high school and complete post-secondary education.
Public health helps ensure that Oregon children are ready for kindergarten
Early childhood interventions have been shown to improve child health and contribute to kindergarten readiness. These include:
Public health helps improve high school graduation rates
As children progress through primary and secondary school, health is associated with regular attendance, academic achievement (pdf) and increased likelihood of high school graduation (pdf). Public health approaches to improve the health of students and school employees and promote healthy school environments include:
Public health gathers and analyzes data to improve health and education outcomes
Public health contributes to educational success by gathering information on the health status of specific populations through improving and coordinating data systems and monitoring public health indicators, such as:
Related Topics