Indiana Action for Healthy Kids

School Wellness Policies

What is a School Wellness Policy?

It is a set of goals set by schools to improve students' nutrition and physical activity.

Fact Sheet

Does my school need a School Wellness Policy?

In June of 2004, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act was signed into law.  This makes it MANDATORY for schools who participate in the National School Breakfast Program or the National School Lunch Program to have a written School Wellness Policy by July 1, 2006.

What needs to be included in the policy?

Goals from 5 main areas need to be addressed.

• Nutrition Education Goals - This area deals with nutrition education inside and outside of the classroom (classroom parties, fundraising events, cafeteria and vending selections, sporting events, etc.)  In addition, this area should also include goals for providing teachers with continuing education about nutrition.

• Physical Activity Goals - This area deals with how often and how long physical education should last.  It also should set standards for recess and other activities (walking/biking to school, use of facilities before and after school, etc.).

• Nutrition Standards for all foods served at school - The nutritional value for all foods must be available.  Standards should be set for serving sizes, and sugar and fat should be limited.  Guidelines should be established to indicate when certain foods will be available to students (vending machines, etc.). 

• Other Student Activities Related to Wellness - The purpose of this area is to create an environment where kids are physically active and have healthy eating patterns.  It deals with issues such as the time and environment of meals, staff wellness programs, and after school programs.

• Goals for Measurement and Evaluation - This area deals with evaluating the goals set in the other sections to make sure they are being met. 

Resources Available to Get You Started

What is a Wellness Policy?

USDA Wellness Policy Help

John Stakler Institute

NoJunkFood.org

Sample of Existing Policies

Appleton Area School District

Fort Zumwalt School District

Policy Language Recommendations

Urban and Environmental Policy Institute

National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity

Success Stories

Center for Science in the Public Interest

Tools for Assessment and Template Policies

IN AFHK - Taking Action for Children's Health

This resource kit was originally disseminated at our conference in November 04.  It contains an easy-to-follow needs assessment tool to be used in your area, as well as information about forming your own school wellness council.

National AFHK - Wellness Policy Tool

This Wellness Policy Tool has been developed with input from our partner organizations and many Action for Healthy Kids State Team members. This tool has been designed to help your team create a local wellness policy that meets your district's goals for nutrition and physical activity.

The Action for Healthy Kids Wellness Policy Tool allows you to build your own policy by cutting and pasting language from existing or model policies that have been gathered from states and districts around the country. Follow the steps below and use the searchable database to find ideas for policy options that meet your district's needs.