Education can be regarded as an intervention, a treatment, and a potential positive influence on the health of an accessible group of children and youth ages 3-18. Education can have a positive effect upon health by modifying prominent behaviors established during youth that result in preventable morbidity and mortality during both youth and adulthood. These behaviors include: failure to use seat belts; drinking or drug use that results in accidents, homicide, or suicide; unprotected sexual intercourse that results in unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases; tobacco use; excessive consumption of fat, calories, and sodium, and insufficient consumption of fiber; and insufficient exercise. In spite of the evidence that school health education can change health behavior, health instruction is either nonexistent or seriously inadequate for the majority of students in the United States. To remedy this situation, national policy that supports comprehensive school health education is needed. A list of National Health/Education Consortium members and a description of the formation and goals of the consortium are appended. (IAH)