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The newsletter that takes a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach. The Friday Beat is a free publication of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). It is edited and compiled by the School Health Program.
Happy New Year from the School Health Program (SHP)! We hope everyone had a great winter break and a happy new year! Our team is looking forward to continuing our efforts to support the health and well-being of Texas students.
Guidance for Preventing Spread of Infections in K-12 Schools
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided guidance to help prevent the spread of infections in K-12 schools. Schools can take simple steps to stop the spread of respiratory and stomach viruses, like influenza and norovirus, as well as bacterial infections like strep throat. This guidance aims to keep students in school and healthy while reducing illness. Please share this information with parents, teachers, and school staff as we start the new year and return from winter break.
January is National Radon Action Month
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes January as National Radon Action Month. According to a nationwide survey, one in five schools has at least one room with radon levels above the recommended action level. Read more about radon and how to test schools on the EPA website.
School Nutrition and Environment Services Webinar
Action for Healthy Kids is hosting a free webinar on School Nutrition Services and Nutrition Environments on January 21, 2026 at 10 a.m. The webinar will discuss how to improve school nutrition environments in Texas. Participants will learn about options that best meet the needs of schools and school districts. Register for the webinar today.
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) #4064 Training
The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) is offering virtual and in-person TCOLE #4064 trainings in Spring 2026. The goal of this training is to help school-based law enforcement officers and school districts require peace/resource officers to complete education and training. This training is available for school-based law enforcement officers, public ISDs, open-enrollment charter schools, junior colleges, and state agencies that support schools. Register for the next virtual or in-person session, held over two days from 7:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. CT.
NTAC Training Event: Practical Strategies for Integrating Mental Health Supports into Schoolwide Systems
The National Technical Assistance Center for Adolescent Health and Well-Being is hosting a two-part virtual event called “Practical Strategies for Integrating Mental Health Supports into Schoolwide Systems.” Participants will learn how to examine current trends in adolescent mental health and identify common challenges to adding mental health supports in schools. There is a limit of 50 attendees. Register to save your spot for the next training on January 21 & 28, 2026, from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. CT.
2026 Hybrid Diabetes Management Conference for School Nurses
Texas Children’s Hospital will be hosting a hybrid conference on February 21, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT. The goal of the conference is to meet the educational needs of school nurses and other healthcare providers who work with students that have diabetes. Learn more and register on the conference registration page.
Indoor Air Quality Grant Application
The National School Boards Association (NSBA) and the Go Green Initiative (GGI) have teamed up for a EPA-funded program. This program aims to improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG's) in low-income school districts. Applications are due February 27, 2026, for the second round of school district grants. Selected districts will receive up to $45,000 in grants and in-person technical assistance for implementing an energy efficient IAQ management plan. Learn more and apply.
Grants to Replace or Retrofit School Buses
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is accepting applications for the Texas Clean School Bus program. This program helps reduce children’s exposure to diesel exhaust from school buses. Grants are available for eligible public-school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in Texas. Private schools do not qualify for funding. Applications are accepted and considered on a first-come, first-served basis until May 22, 2026, or until all available funds have been awarded.
GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and KidsGardening are accepting applications for the GroMoreGood Grassroots Grant. The grant is designed to bring gardens to communities across the United States. Any nonprofit organization, school district, university, or tax-exempt organization with at least 15 youth participating in the program is eligible to apply. 120 programs will receive grants totaling $100,000 to start or expand their garden or greenspace. Visit the KidsGardening website to learn more about eligibility and apply by January 30, 2026.
Smokefree Teen Resources
The National Cancer Institute’s Tobacco Control Research Branch created Smokefree Teen to help reduce tobacco use among young people. This program is part of the Smokefree.gov Initiative and offers free resources. You can use a text messaging program, the quitSTART app, personalized quit plans, and other tools to manage cravings, improve your mood, and handle situations in which teens might want to smoke.
Seeds of Success Toolkit
KidsGardening created a Seeds of Success Toolkit to help schools start and maintain edible gardens. This toolkit is based on the experience of school gardeners from across the country. It provides the resources needed to set up and run a successful school food garden. Topics include planning, designing, funding, safety, and more. Resources include downloadable curriculum chapters and recorded webinars.
Diabetes Care Tasks at School: What Personnel Need to Know
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has updated their training program called “Diabetes Care Tasks at School: What Key Personnel Need to Know.” This virtual program has 19-modules that include PowerPoint slides with important information about specific diabetes care tasks and a quiz at the end of each module.
School nurses and/or pediatric diabetes health care professionals may use these modules to train non-clinical school staff to perform diabetes care tasks. Schools can also share this information at staff and parent meetings to increase diabetes awareness and to provide guidance on how to support children with diabetes. The ADA recommends that people review Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel before to using the modules.
“New year — a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately, we write it. The choice is ours.” –Alex Morritt
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The articles and hyperlinks to external websites appearing in Friday Beat are intended to be informational and do not represent an endorsement by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Other websites may not be accessible to people with disabilities. External email addresses may also be provided as a courtesy. If you choose to correspond, please be advised that DSHS policies may not apply. For information about any of the programs listed, contact the sponsoring organization directly. For comments or questions about Friday Beat, email the School Health Program at schoolhealth@dshs.texas.gov or call (512) 776-7279.
Public Domain. Permission granted to forward or make copies as needed.
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