ERIC Number: EJ1085288
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2333-4851
EISSN: N/A
Academic Majors and Subject-Area Certifications of Health Education Teachers in the United States, 2011-2012
Cardina, Catherine
Journal of Health Education Teaching, v5 n1 p35-43 2014
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify academic preparation and subject-area certifications of K-12 public school staff teaching at least one health education class during 2011-2012 academic year. In general, teachers who are well qualified to teach a subject area are more likely to positively affect student achievement. Methods: Data reported for this study were extracted from the 2011-2012 U.S. Schools and Staffing Survey, a comprehensive nationally representative survey of school employees conducted periodically by the National Center for Educational Statistics. Descriptive statistics were used to identify health education teachers' academic majors and subject-area certifications. Results: Among health education teachers, 35.5% reported an academic major in health education, 30.3% reported a major of physical education, and 34.2% reported majors in other academic subjects. Approximately 60% of health education teachers were certified in health education. Among the 39.7% of health teachers not certified in health education, 35.0% reported their primary area of certification was physical education and 22.6% reported certification in elementary grades-general. Conclusions: Data revealed that in the U.S. most health education teachers did not have an academic major in health education. In addition, nearly 40% of health teachers were not certified in health education. Health education teachers that were not certified in health education were most often certified in physical education. Recommendations: A number of initiatives to consider were presented in order to have the most qualified teachers of school health education, which included a state certification, licensure, or endorsement to teach health education and an academic major in health education.
Descriptors: Health Education, Majors (Students), National Surveys, Elementary Secondary Education, Teacher Qualifications, Academic Achievement, Statistical Analysis, Identification, Physical Education, Teacher Certification, Elementary School Teachers, Secondary School Teachers, Health Behavior
Journal of Health Education Teaching. 9563 Wedge Way, Delmar, MD 21875. Tel: 443-880-0394; e-mail: JofHET@yahoo.com; Web site: http://jhetonline.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education; Elementary Education; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Schools and Staffing Survey (NCES)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A