How can schools ensure that a program is medically accurate?
Assuring that content is medically accurate is of critical importance and is the reason all instructors should be provided with content-specific professional development. To assist in reviewing content for medical accuracy, school medical inspectors (school physicians) and school nurses may be involved in the curriculum review process along with substance awareness coordinators, school counselors, social workers, and health education instructors and supervisors. Community medical experts and healthcare providers may also be of assistance. If the instructional program was developed by school district staff, the curriculum committee should provide a list of reputable resources to assist in reviewing program materials. If the program was developed by a major publisher, the material may have already been reviewed for accuracy by a national agency. Specific facts cited in instructional materials can be compared with facts published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.
