FALL RIVER, MA — Students in grades 6 through 8 will see a standard health curriculum across all schools, beginning this fall. That curriculum will include substance abuse prevention education.

The School Committee last week voted to approve the change, which had been proposed by school officials.

In the past school year, only two schools serving middle school grades, Kuss and Morton, had health curricula that were taught. John J. Doran Community School, Henry Lord Community School, Talbot Innovation Middle School and Resiliency Middle School did not.

Now all schools will have health taught during physical education periods at least once a week, during the second and third terms of the school year, according to the curriculum.

The district’s push to bring health back into middle schools dovetails with the state’s action plan to combat the ongoing opioid abuse epidemic.

The health curriculum the School Committee adopted incorporates a substance abuse prevention program called “Botvin LifeSkills.” It’s based on teaching students about self-esteem, decision-making skills, stress, peer pressure and assertiveness.

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