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Each local educational agency that participates in the National School Lunch
Program or other federal Child Nutrition programs is required by federal law to
establish a local school wellness policy for all schools under its jurisdiction.
Local wellness policies are an important tool for parents, local educational
agencies (LEAs) and school districts in promoting student wellness, preventing and
reducing childhood obesity, and providing assurance that school meal nutrition
guidelines meet the minimum federal school meal standards.
Background
Congress recognizes that schools play a critical
role in promoting student health, preventing childhood obesity, and combating
problems associated with poor nutrition and physical inactivity. In 2004,
Congress passed the Child Nutrition and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program
for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act (Sec. 204 of Public
Law 108-205). This act required by law that all LEAs participating in the
National School Lunch Program or other child nutrition programs create local
school wellness policies by School Year 2006. The legislation places the
responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the
individual needs of each LEA can be addressed.
In 2010, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
(Sec. 204 of Public Law 111-296), and added new provisions for local school
wellness policies related to implementation, evaluation, and publicly reporting
on progress of local school wellness policies.
Implementation Timeline
- As of School Year 2006-2007, all districts were
required to establish a local school wellness policy.
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For School Year 2013-2014, LEAs are encouraged to continue reviewing and
assessing their local wellness policies and implementing the new
requirements. State agencies will be selecting between two options for the
Administrative Review, and LEAs will be held accountable for local school
wellness policy implementation, assessment, and public updates.
This portion of our site will
continue to be updated to
reflect the requirements of the
2010 law.
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