What is the purpose of the CDC's Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT)?

The Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT) serves a specific purpose in evaluating health education curricula. It is designed to provide a structured approach for assessing the quality of health education programs and identifying their strengths and weaknesses. By utilizing HECAT, educators can systematically evaluate existing curricula against established standards and best practices in health education. This evaluation can inform necessary revisions to improve curriculum effectiveness, ensure it meets the educational needs of students, and aligns with health education guidelines.

This focus on evaluation distinguishes HECAT from tools or frameworks intended for other uses, such as identifying the most effective teaching strategies or promoting physical education specifically. While those aspects may be part of a broader discussion around health education, the primary function of HECAT specifically pertains to assessing and improving existing health curricula. Standardized testing is also a different area of focus, as it pertains more to measurement of student achievement rather than the evaluation of the curriculum itself.