Student Learning and Support
School Wellness Policies and Initiatives
School Wellness Policy
Schools play a critical role in promoting student health, preventing childhood obesity, and combating problems associated with poor nutrition and physical inactivity. To formalize and encourage this role, Congress passed a law requiring each local educational agency participating in a program authorized by the National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006.
The legislation places the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level, so that the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts are required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation.
The Louisiana Department of Education has developed a wellness policy template that can be used as a model by local educational agencies to develop their own wellness policies. The United States Department of Agriculture also has a website that serves as a clearinghouse of ideas related to developing and implementing a Wellness Policy. USDA recommends that any model Wellness Policy should be adapted to meet the individual school's or district's needs.
Wellness Policy Template - January 2010
Word
The Louisiana Department of Education developed this wellness policy template for local educational agencies to use as a model to develop their own wellness policies.
USDA Wellness Policy Web Site
This site provides details related Local Wellness Policy legislation. Sample policies and reference materials are provided to help school districts as they develop their own Wellness Policies.
Action for Healthy Kids
This organization provides excellent resources for developing and implementing Wellness Policies.
For more information contact:
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| Alice Carroll |
Ed Prog. Consultant 3
alice.carroll@la.gov
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(225) 342-3515
(225) 342-4454 Fax
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| Michael Comeaux |
Health and Physical Education Coordinator
michael.comeaux@la.gov
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225-219-7493
(225) 219-4454 Fax
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