School Wellness Policies are Required by Federal Law

Federal law required school boards across the country to adopt and implement a district-wide school wellness policy by the beginning of the 2006-07 school year. The law includes a requirement that parents/guardians and the community be involved in the development of this new policy. The federal Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires each school board in districts participating in the National School Lunch Program (42 USC 1751-1769) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 USC 1771-1791, including the School Breakfast Program) to adopt and implement a policy that, at a minimum, must include the following:

Goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness in a manner that the district determines is appropriate.

Nutrition guidelines selected by the district for all foods available on each campus during the school day, with the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity.

An assurance that guidelines for reimbursable school meals will not be less restrictive than federal regulations and guidance issued pursuant to 42 USC 1758(f)(1), 1766(a) and 1779(a) and (b), as they apply to schools.

A plan for measuring implementation of the wellness policy, including the designation of one or more persons in the district or at each school charged with operational responsibility for ensuring that the school meets the policy.

The law requires that certain persons be involved in the development of the student wellness policy. They include parents/guardians, students, school food service professionals, school administrators, school board representatives, and members of the public. School boards are encouraged to expand the categories of persons involved to include teachers, health educators, classified staff, school nurses, physical educators, and other appropriate school representatives. Members of the public include health professionals, representatives of city and county agencies, representatives of community organizations, food vendors, and others.

A reality in many schools and districts is that these policies exist on paper, but have little to do with the health and well being of the children in school. Without public oversight, advocacy, and involvement, these policies don't have any real effect on children's health. Learn more about what you can do to activate the health and wellness policies in your school and community--your children's health depends on it.

Resources for School Health & Wellness

Model School Wellness Policies. This excellent resource site provides model school wellness policies. The site is sponsored by the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity.

California Project Lean provides you with a wealth of resources, evaluations, articles and materials for promoting healthy eating and physical activity in schools. Learn more about CPL and how they can help you.

Guide for Creating Health & Wellness in Low Income Schools. A great guide published by the Food Resource and Action Center.