Fine Arts and Education

Physical/Health Education

Irving ISD engages students in activities that focus on their physical, social and emotional well-being, giving them the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to live a happy, healthy, physically active life now and in the future.

Health Resources

Health and Physical Activity Policies

Weather Guidelines

Part of daily routine in schools is to monitor the weather in order to plan for student’s playtime, field trips and educational activities. The guidelines discussed below are based on the National Weather Service and will provide information to teachers and staff as they plan for educational and recreational activities throughout the school day.

Teachers/coaches are encouraged to use apps and/or check websites for current weather conditions when making decisions regarding outdoor physical activity time for students during or after the school day.

Irving Independent School District Weather Guidelines

Off-Campus Physical Education

There are students in the Irving Independent School District who participate in individual fitness activities that are not offered comprehensively by the physical education (P.E.) and/or athletic departments. The Irving ISD Off-Campus Physical Education Program allows students in grades 6-12 to earn school credits for their commitment to these activities if the activity is approved by the Texas Education Agency and the Irving Independent School District.

Board Policies EIF (Legal) and EIF (Local) permit the district to substitute such programs for up to two state graduation credits in physical education for students in 9^th –12^th grades. The Irving ISD Board of Trustees extends the same opportunity to middle school students to substitute off-campus P.E. programs for local district Physical Education requirements.

Off-Campus PE Guidelines

Off-Campus PE Application

Human Sexuality Instruction

Under state law (Education Code 28.004) human sexuality instruction must:

Present abstinence as the preferred choice of behavior for unmarried persons of school age.
Emphasize that abstinence is the only method that is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, infection with HIV or AIDS, and the emotional trauma associated with adolescent sexual activity.
Use reality rates, that include the possibility of human error, to teach contraception, instead of theoretical laboratory rates, where human error is less likely to occur.

Middle School Focus

At the middle school level, BIG DECISIONS uses classroom activities to help students learn about healthy relationships and how bodies work. Students learn how sex has consequences, why abstinence is the best choice for teenagers, and how to resist pressure to have sex. They also learn about ways for sexually active people to reduce their chances of pregnancy and STDs—including information about birth control and condoms.

The lessons are taught in physical education by a trained group of professional educators from your child’s school. Sixth graders will receive a BIG DECISIONS-PART 1 which concentrates on building resiliency to resist pressure for risky behavior; seventh and eighth graders will receive BIG DECISIONS-PART 2 which emphasizes self-reflection for a healthy, productive life; both programs focus on providing accurate health information to encourage wise decisions.

High School Focus

At the high school level, HEALTHY DECISIONS is a comprehensive sexual health unit which stresses the importance of abstinence, and the consequences associated with choosing to engage in risky behavior. Students will also learn how to resist pressure to have sex, and ways for sexually active people to reduce their chances of pregnancy and STDs—including information about birth control and condoms. Healthy Decisions also covers sexual assault, sexual abuse and the responsibilities of being a parent.

School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)

What is a School Health Advisory council (SHAC)?

SHAC is a group of individuals representing segments of the community, appointed by the school district to serve at the district level, to provide advice to the district on coordinated school health programming and its impact on student health and learning. The SHAC will assist the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in the district's health education instruction.

SHACs provide an efficient, effective structure for recommending age-appropriate, sequential health education programs, and early intervention and prevention strategies that can easily be supported by local families and community stakeholders.

Meeting Dates

January 22, 2026 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Notes | Meeting Recording
November 13, 2025 | Meeting Agenda
September 25, 2025 | Meeting Agenda | September SHAC Mtg | Meeting Notes | 5th Grade Puberty
January 28, 2025 | Meeting Agenda | January SHAC Mtg
November 22, 2024 | Meeting Agenda | November SHAC Mtg
September 24, 2024 | Meeting Agenda | September SHAC Mtg
March 19, 2024 | Meeting Agenda | March SHAC Mtg | Meeting Notes | Wellness Plan | Wellness Assessment
January 16, 2024 | Meeting Canceled due to Weather
Nov. 7 | Meeting Agenda | November SHAC Mtg | Meeting Notes
Oct. 31 |
Sept. 19 | Meeting Agenda | September SHAC Mtg | Meeting Notes
May 2, 2023 | Meeting Agenda | May SHAC Mtg
March 21, 2023 | Meeting Agenda | March SHAC Mtg | Meeting Notes
January 2023 | Meeting Agenda | January SHAC Mtg | Meeting Notes
November 2022 | Meeting Agenda | November SHAC Mtg
September 2022 | Meeting Agenda | September SHAC Mtg
September 28, 2021 (via Zoom). Meeting Agenda | Meeting Notes
November 9, 2021 (via Zoom) Meeting Agenda | Meeting Notes | NovSHAC Meeting Recording
January 18, 2022 (location TBD) | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Notes | January SHAC mtg
March 22, 2022 | Meeting Agenda | Meeting Notes | March SHAC Meeting Recording
SHAC Laws

Every independent school system is required by law to have a School District Health Advisory Council; of which the majority of members must be parents who are not employed by the school district. Title 2, Chapter 28, Section 28.004 of the Texas Education Code at http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/ED/htm/ED.28.htm#28.004p details the specifics of this mandate

For more information about the Irving ISD School Health Advisory Council, please contact Dr. Sandi Cravens scravens@irvingisd.net or 972.600.5043.

For general information on the School Health Advisory Council visit https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/sdhac.shtm

Senate ll 18 Required Information:

Counselors

Every IISD early childhood school has one full-time counselor.
Every IISD elementary school has two full-time counselors.
Every IISD middle school has 2-3 full-time counselors.
Every IISD high school has 3-7 full-time counselors.

Nurses:

All Irving ISD schools have a full-time registered nurse (RN)

Policies & Procedures to Promote the Physical and Mental Health of Students:

PreK - 8th grade students receive health education, which is either embedded into physical education classes or taught as a standalone course.
Eight elementary schools offer health education as a standalone course.
All high school students are required to take a one-semester health education course.
EHAA (legal & local)
FNCC (legal)
GRA (legal & local)
FOCA (legal)
DH (exhibit)
FFA (local)
FFAA (legal)

Mental Health Resource: North Texas Behavioral Health Authority 9441 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy, Ste 350, Dallas, TX 75243 phone: 214.366.9407

Public Health Resource: Children's Health 1935 Medical District Drive, Dallas, Texas 75235 phone: 844.424.4537