Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC)

Texas State Law requires that the board of trustees of each school district establish a local School Health Advisory Council (SHAC).  The purpose of the committee is to ensure that community values are reflected in the health education curriculum and other school health issues.  Senate Bill 1357 expanded the duties of the council to include recommending strategies for integrating school health services, counseling and guidance services, a safe school environment, and school employee wellness. 
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The Garrison ISD School Health Advisory Council is comprised of parents of students enrolled in the district, community members, and district employees. 

Physical Activity Policy:
Student Welfare - Wellness and Health Services - FFA (LEGAL)

Physical Activity Policy:
​Basic Instructional Program - Required Instruction (Secondary) - EHAC (LEGAL)

Tobacco Policy:
​Student Conduct - Tobacco Use and Possession - FNCD (LEGAL)

Alcohol Awareness Program:
Basic Instructional Program - Required Instruction (Secondary) - EHAC (LEGAL)

Nutrition Guidelines:
Student Welfare - Wellness and Health Services - FFA (LEGAL)

SHAC Duties and Responsibilities:
Board Internal Organization - Citizen Advisory Committees - BDF (LEGAL)

Garrison ISD Wellness Plan
Garrison ISD Wellness Plan

SHAC Recommendation for Health Education including Human Sexuality

School-Based Sexual Health Education

The Garrison ISD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) values the health and academic success of our students and recognizes that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), other STIs, and pregnancies in these formative years are serious threats to their current academic achievement and future economic productivity.  Studies have shown that school-based sexual health education can positively influence students’ health-related knowledge, skills, and behaviors, and contribute to their academic achievement.  Parents overwhelmingly support sexual health education beginning in middle school and believe schools should do more to prevent teen pregnancy and STIs among students.[viii]  Schools have a responsibility, in coordination with families and communities, to implement evidence-based sexual health education programs that will help students make responsible decisions during their school years and into their adult lives. 

Texas Law

Texas law requires schools to emphasize abstinence in their sexual health education programs. [ix]  Newly adopted Health Education Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) include standards discussing condoms and contraceptives as methods to help avoid unintended pregnancies and reduce the transmission of STIs.[x] All effective programs are in compliance with EHAA Legal policy, which provides guidelines for selecting sexual health education programs.

Garrison ISD Plan

1.   Given the significance of unintended pregnancies and STIs and their impact on academic outcomes, and based on the data collected thus far and the goals set by the Garrison ISD SHAC, the SHAC recommends at this time that The Garrison ISD school board vote to adopt Esteem Journeys along with the Goodheart-Wilcox Health Curriculum, an effective, evidence-based program, as an approved sexual health education curriculum;

2.   Incorporate goals and objectives that support the implementation of an effective, evidence-based program into district and campus improvement plans for the 2022-2023 school year.

Description of the Programs

ESTEEM - Esteem Jouneys is an evidence-based sexual education and character education program.  The program is evidence-based, medically accurate, and proven effective. Esteem has been developed with over 18 years of research and has proven effective in encouraging students to think about the impact of their choices. Through character development, adolescent safety, and sexual risk avoidance lessons, it also helps to improve student awareness of the importance of making healthy decisions.  ESTEEM consists of optimal health messages created by a coalition of dedicated people, including science teachers, coaches, counselors, nurses, doctors, SHAC members, topic experts, parents and even students.  Esteem addresses all points in Texas Education Code 28.004. Local School Health Advisory Council and Health Education Instruction: Sections e-j Chapter 115. Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Health Education, Statutory Authority: The provisions of this Subchapter B Middle School issued under the Texas Education Code, §§7.102(c)(4), 28.002(s), 37.001, and 37.0832, unless otherwise noted. Subchapter C. High School

GOODHEART-WILCOX - Goodheart-Wilcox Texas Health Skills for High School is a  complete educational package for teaching skills-based health education, Texas Health Skills for High School features cutting-edge health topics, such as COVID-19, vaping, opioid addiction, body positivity and compassion, mindfulness, and online communication and safety.  This is a full course curriculum designed to be implemented during high school Health courses. Goodheart-Wilcox Health Curriculum is TEKS-aligned, and the only curriculum adopted by the SBOE for Texas Health courses. 




​TEA Guidance for Fitnessgram
​Fitnessgram Waived for 2019-2020 School Year