District Wellness Policy
A local wellness policy is a written document that guides local education agencies (LEA) or school district’s efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn.
Background
In 2004, Congress passed the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act (Sec. 204 of Public Law 108-265) requiring all local education agencies (LEAs) participating in school nutrition programs to create local wellness policies. In 2010, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (Sec. 204 of Public Law 111-296) adding new provisions for local wellness policies. LEAs must comply with the Local Wellness Policy Final Rule by June 30, 2017. In addition to federal requirements, districts must take into account requirements of the Students Health and Fitness Act of 2005 which establishes standards for physical education, physical activity, nutrition education, and foods served in elementary schools (kindergarten through fifth grade).
The South Carolina School Boards Association updated the South Carolina model Local Wellness Policy (ADF) in 2017 in compliance with the Final Rule.
Districts and schools must:
- Identify wellness policy leadership and engage a diverse group of stakeholders in the revision and monitoring of the wellness policy.
- Set goals for nutrition education and promotion, physical activity and other school-based activities that promote student wellness.
- Meet standards for nutrition guidelines for foods sold and establish standards for foods provided, but not sold, to students.
- Establish policies for food and beverage marketing of only Smart Snacks-compliant foods.
- Measure and publicly report wellness policy implementation progress.
- Triennially assess progress, compare wellness policy to a model policy and provide documentation of policy implementation.
Resources for Communication
The USDA and Nutrition Service’s Team Nutrition initiative has developed a free Local Wellness Policy Outreach Toolkit that school districts and schools can customize to communicate information about their local wellness policy to parents and staff. The kit includes:
- A letter to the wellness coordinator
- Sample letter to school principals
- Informational flyers
- Presentations for parents and staff
- Sample newsletter articles
- Social media posts and graphics
Resources, Programs and Services
