What is a local school wellness policy?
A local school wellness policy (“wellness policy”) is a written document that guides a local educational agency’s (LEA)
or school district’s efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to
learn.
The wellness policy requirement was established by the Child Nutrition and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004 and further strengthened by the Healthy,
Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). It requires each LEA participating in the National School Lunch Program
and/or School Breakfast Program to develop a wellness policy. The nal rule expands the requirements to strengthen
policies and increase transparency. The responsibility for developing, implementing, and evaluating a wellness policy
is placed at the local level, so the unique needs of each school under the LEA’s jurisdiction can be addressed.
Local School Wellness Policy Implementation
Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010:
Summary of the Final Rule
Provisions of the Final Rule
On July 29, 2016, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) nalized regulations to create a framework and
guidelines for written wellness policies established by LEAs. The nal rule requires LEAs to begin developing a revised
local school wellness policy during School Year 2016-2017. LEAs must fully comply with the requirements of the nal
rule by June 30, 2017.
Content of the Wellness Policy
At a minimum, policies are required to include:
Specific goals for nutrition promotion and
education, ph
ysical activity, and other school-
based activities that promote student wellness.
LEAs are required to review and consider
evidence-based strategies in determining these
goals.
Standards and nutrition guidelines for all
foods
and beverages sold to students on the school
campus during the school day that are
consistent with Federal regulations for:
School meal nutrition standards, and the
Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
Standards for all foods and beverages
provided,
but not sold, to students during the school day
(e.g., in classroom parties, classroom snacks
brought by parents, or other foods given as
incentives).
Policies for food and beverage marketing
that
allow marketing and advertising of only those
foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks
in School nutrition standards.
Description of public involvement, public
updates, policy leadership, and evaluation
plan.
Wellness Leadership
LEAs must establish wellness policy leadership of
one or more LEA and/or school official(s) who have
the authority and responsibility t
o ensure each school
complies with the policy.
Public Involvement
At a minimum, LEAs must:
Permit participation
by the general public and the
school community (including parents, students, and
representatives of the school food authority, teachers
of physical education, school health professionals,
the school board, and school administrators) in the
wellness policy process.
United States Department of Agriculture
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
Triennial Assessments
The nal rule requires State agencies to assess
compliance with the wellness policy requirements
as a part of the general areas of the administrative
review every 3 years.
LEAs must conduct an assessment of the
wellness policy every 3 years, at a minimum. This
assessment will determine:
Compliance with the wellness policy,
How the wellness policy compares to model
wellness policies, and
Progress made in attaining the goals of the
wellness policy.
Regulation
The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register, and the 60-day public comment period closed on
April 28, 2014. FNS received 57,838 public comments that were considered in developing the nal rule.
The nal rule was published on July 29, 2016 and can be found online at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/local-
school-wellness-policy.
Resources
USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s “School Nutrition
Environment and Wellness Resources” Web site has
information and resources on:
Local school wellness policy process,
Wellness policy elements,
• Success stories,
Grants/funding opportunities, and
• Trainings.
Model Wellness Policy – Thoroughly reviewed by
USDA FNS, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s
model policy template is in compliance with the
requirements set forth in the proposed rule and will be
updated per the nal rule.
Putting Local School Wellness Policies Into
Action: Stories From School Districts and
Schools – The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and USDA developed a compilation of
11 stories to help LEAs and schools implement
wellness policies.
National Wellness Study Briefs – Bridging the
Gap’s research briefs highlight areas of opportunity
for State agencies, LEAs, and schools to strengthen
wellness policy components.
Documentation
The State agency will examine records during the
Administrative Review, including:
Copy of the current wellness policy,
Documentation on how the policy and assessments
are made available to the public,
The most recent assessment of implementation of
the policy, and
Documentation of efforts to review and update the
policy, including who was involved in the process and
how stakeholders were made aware of their ability to
participate.
Updates to the Wellness Policy
The nal rule requires that LEAs update or modify the
wellness policy as appropriate.
Public Updates
The rule requires that LEAs must make available to the
public:
The wellness policy, including any updates to and
about the wellness policy, on an annual basis, at a
minimum, and
The Triennial Assessment, including progress toward
meeting the goals of the policy.
Check it out! http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/
school-wellness-resources
U.S. Department of Agriculture • Food and Nutrition Service • FNS-627 • July 2016 • USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.