Q&As

School Wellness Policies

Where can I find information on the development of school wellness policies?

The School Nutrition Association (SNA) is recognized as the authority on school nutrition and provides a wealth of information pertaining to the development and implementation of school wellness policies on their Web site.

When do schools have to comply with this initiative?

Every school district that participates in the federal school meals program is required to enact a wellness policy by the first day of the 2006-2007 school year.

What do these policies have to address?

School districts’ wellness policies must address goals for nutrition education, goals for physical activity, nutrition guidelines for all foods available at school, goals for other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness, assurances that school meals guidelines are not less restrictive than federal requirements, and plans for evaluating policy implementation.

What are the benefits of promoting wellness in the school environment?

Science shows that healthy children have increased school attendance, better behavior, and both learn and perform better. If we can teach students how to balance calories consumed with calories burned, we can give them the tools to live a balanced lifestyle as adults.

What is the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program?

The Healthy Schools Program is a joint initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association. It is a great way for schools to get the help they need to become healthier places for staff and students. The program will support schools in their efforts to:

Develop systems for addressing student and staff health
Increase opportunities for students to exercise and play
Make healthier foods and beverages available during the regular and extended school day
Increase resources for teachers and staff to adopt healthy behaviors and be healthy role models

How does the beverage industry’s school beverage policy fit?

Our policy, which was developed in conjunction with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, is a strong, balanced and common-sense policy that provides even more lower-calorie and nutritious or functional beverages to schools. These guidelines would make a strong component of any local school wellness policy.