CREATE DEMAND
Infuse into educational structure
(state/national standards, standardized testing, textbooks)
General - Target Groups and Stakeholders
- Promote epidemiology and public health subject areas; identify benefits, tie to education outcomes; impact at national, state, county, city, local levels:
- Governmental educational agencies / stakeholders
- Federal and state education administrators
- State and local school boards
- School administrators
- Teacher organizations at national, state, and local level
- PTA organizations and members
- Epidemiology and public health organizations
- Curriculum developers and textbook publishers
Potential Strategies / Activities
Educational Standards
Increase epidemiology content in National Standards (many standards already can be generally applied to epidemiology; there could also be more direct references to the science of public health)
Increase epidemiology content in State (many standards already can be generally applied to epidemiology; there could also be more direct references to the science of public health)
Document how various areas of epidemiology reinforces current curriculum standards (e.g., in problem-solving); emphasize that alignment with standards is an important factor in attracting school administrator and teacher interest
Textbooks
Increase / insert epidemiology content in middle school textbooks
Increase / insert epidemiology content in high school textbooks
Testing
Integrate epidemiology content into PSAT and SAT testing
Integrate epidemiology content into grade school standardized tests (e.g., GEPA - Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment)
Introduce epidemiology as an AP course and/or specialty exam
Media / Outreach
Obtain / prepare / disseminate materials about jobs / career paths
Identify and impact newspaper / television / radio / magazine media - find champions (e.g. NPR, People Magazine, Sesame Street)
Utilize College Board video
Explore avenues in developing countries
Professional Involvement / Support
Increase involvement in appropriate committees in professional organizations such as the American College of Epidemiology (ACE), National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), and the American Public Health Association (APHA)
Continue to support and encourage epidemiologists to participate in school science competitions, local college lectures, etc.
Hire epidemiologists to work in schools
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