Local Wellness Policy THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education School Operations and Management Services Child Nutrition Program Administration Room 55, Albany, NY Tel. (518) Fax (518)

Child Nutrition Reauthorization “Section 204 of the Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children Reauthorization Act of 2004 (PL ) signed into law June 30, 2004 included a provision that requires each local educational agency (LEA) participating in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program and Summer Food Service Program to establish a local wellness policy for schools under the LEA. This policy must be developed and implemented not later than the first day of the school year beginning after June 30, 2006.”

The wellness policy should … Include goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness in a manner that the LEA determines appropriate

The wellness policy should … Include nutrition guidelines selected by the LEA for all foods available on each school campus under the LEA with the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity

The wellness policy should … Provide an assurance that guidelines for reimbursable school meals shall not be less restrictive than regulations of the Child Nutrition programs

The wellness policy should also… Establish an evaluation and monitoring plan for the policy Designate one or more persons within the LEA or at each school, as appropriate, to ensure that the school meets the goals of the policy Involve parents, students, LEA representatives, the school board, school administrators, and the public in the development of the policy

How will this happen?

Step by step… Assemble a team Assess current activities, programs, policies Identify areas of need Develop policy Implement Evaluate Revise and update as needed

Assemble a team Be sure to include a representative from all required partners (administrators, food service, teachers, parents, students, community, etc.) Designate a team leader

Assess What policies, programs and activities are currently in place which promote wellness? How can they be incorporated into your LEA’s wellness policy?

Identify areas of need Identify areas with improvement opportunities Focus on areas currently not being addressed

Develop policy Keep it simple and reasonable Represent your communities ideas Incorporate all current activities Include new programs to address gaps identified during the assessment phase

Implement Follow the course determined by the team Be careful not to do too much all at once. This could leave staff and students feeling overwhelmed

Evaluate Look at activities and programs  What is going well?  What could be done differently? Track your progress Celebrate and build on successes

Revise and Update The wellness policy is a work in progress Revisions should be made periodically to keep pace with changing needs and to keep your policy current Update activities and programs to increase participation and ensure continued success in working toward your goals

Resources Available online at by clicking on Local Wellness Policies

We are here to help For more information regarding the local wellness policy please call us (518) Sandra Sheedy, Barbara St. Louis or Thomas Ring