Adopt policies and provide resources that institutionalize health and safety education so that the education is high-quality and provides sufficient time and materials for students to master essential knowledge and skills.

Effective implementation of health and safety education requires administrative support and sufficient time and resources. Policies help to ensure that support continues and becomes institutionalized. Studies show that adequate instructional time and opportunities to learn are crucial if students are to develop mastery of essential knowledge, skills, and competencies for health and safety.

Policies that support high quality health and safety education include making these topics part of the educational system's core academic content (Guideline 2-04) and requiring that these topics are taught by qualified teachers who stay current in the subject (Guideline 2-03). Other forms of administrative support include providing release time for teachers to attend professional development sessions (Guideline 0-16) and assuring that health and safety instructional needs are included in the budget. Resources required for high-quality health and safety education include ample classroom space, access to a computer and audiovisual equipment, relevant and current library materials, and regularly updated instructional materials, curricular guides, and hands-on materials (such as anatomic models and mannequins for teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills). Health and safety courses should receive the same level of support as other core academic subjects for time, space, teaching staff, support staff, and instructional materials.

Having sufficient time for health and safety education allows students time to model, practice, receive feedback, and develop competency in relevant skills. When time is insufficient, teachers often omit skills practice, which is an essential part of health and safety lessons. To address the concern of insufficient time in the school day, some schools have sought funding to lengthen the school day or year. The United States has the equivalent of 175 to 180 six-hour school days per year compared to a mean of 194 days in 38 other countries. Those additional hours have allowed some schools to allot adequate time for health and safety education.

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