School Wellness Policies and Councils
What is a School Wellness Policy?
A school wellness policy is a written document that guides a local education agency’s (LEA) or school district’s efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, wellbeing, and ability to learn.
School Wellness Policy Background
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires by federal 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. In 2010, Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, and added new provisions for local school wellness policies related to implementation, evaluation, and public reporting on progress of local school wellness policies. In 2016, the final rule was published in the Federal Register, which strengthens the school wellness policy requirements on public involvement, transparency, implementation, and evaluation among other topics.
Resources
- Indiana Department of Education – Wellness Policies
- Requirements and resources
- Indiana Department of Health
- Provides a free wellness policy review service. To have your Local Education Agency (LEA) wellness policy reviewed, email Emma Smythe (esmythe@health.in.gov)
- United States Department of Agriculture – Local School Wellness Policies
- Requirements and resources
- WellSAT
- A quantitative assessment tool to help score and improve your local school wellness policy
- Alliance for a Healthier Generation
- Create a free account in the action center to access a wellness policy builder tool
- Healthier Generation Thriving Schools Integrated Assessment: Helps schools and districts quickly and easily identify strengths and opportunities for improving policies and practices in the ways that matter most to them
- Jump IN For Healthy Kids Sample Indiana School Wellness Policy/Template: Provides language for physical activity and nutrition for a school corporation that aligns with best practice recommendations
What is a School Wellness Council?
A school wellness council, also commonly referred to as a district wellness committee or school health advisory council (SHAC), is a group of stakeholders that advises the school corporation about school health programming, health-related policies and goals, and various community health issues. LEAs are required to allow the public to participate in the development of their school wellness policy, so school wellness councils can play an important role in fulfilling this requirement.
Resources
