Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT)

The Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) is an assessment tool to help school districts, schools, and others conduct a clear, complete, and consistent analysis of health education curricula based on the National Health Education Standards and CDC’s Characteristics of an Effective Health Education Curriculum.

HECAT results can help school select or develop appropriate and effective health education curricula, enhance existing curricula, and improve the delivery of health education. The HECAT can be customized to meet local community needs and conform to the curriculum requirements of the state or school district.

HECAT Brochure pdf icon[PDF – 236 KB]

The HECAT features:

Guidance on using the HECAT to review curricula and using the HECAT results to make health education curriculum decisions
Customizable templates for recording important descriptive curriculum information for state or local use in the curriculum review process
Tools to analyze preliminary curriculum considerations, such as accuracy, acceptability, feasibility, and affordability
Tools to analyze curriculum fundamentals, such as teacher materials, instructional design, and instructional strategies and materials
Specific health-topic concept and skills analyses
Guidance on using the HECAT for developing a health education scope and sequence

Online HECAT Training Information

The Training Tools for Healthy Schools: Promoting Health and Academic Success, eLearning series consists of five core training tools that have been converted to 1-1.5 hour modules for the ease and flexibility for online learners. Check out the modules on the Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) to learn more about this tool!

Download the HECAT

Page last reviewed: July 11, 2019

Content source: Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention