what the act means for…

students:

  • Free breakfast served at a time when students can access the most important meal of the day
  • Healthier lunches with more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
  • Elimination of the reduced-price copayment for lunch — this means lunch is free for students who previously had to pay 20 cents at DCPS and 40 cents at most public charter schools
  • Local produce fresh produce from area farms
  • Higher nutrition standards for food sold in the cafeteria, school stores, and vending machines to help students eat healthy throughout the day
  • More opportunities for physical activity to help students develop lifelong habits for health
  • Increased health education to help students learn how to stay safe and healthy
  • Greener school environments more opportunities for school gardens, recycling, energy-reduction improvements, and enhanced lead water and paint testing

families:

  • Assurance that children will be fueled with healthy food and ready to learn
  • Readily-accessible information on school nutrition
  • Promotion of healthy eating and active living through increased health education and physical activity
  • Public reporting requirements so families will know about school environmental testing results and health program offerings

schools:

  • New local funding in addition to federal reimbursements for school meals
  • Opportunities to strengthen physical activity
  • Promotion of health education
  • Local funding for school gardens
  • New recycling, energy-reduction, lead water and paint testing, and other environmental programs

Washington, DC:

  • A chance to lead the nation in implementing comprehensive school wellness legislation.
  • More children with consistent access to nutritious meals.  Facts: One out of 8 D.C. families struggles with hunger.   And 37.4% of households with children reported that in 2009-2010 they were unable to afford enough food in the last year.
  • More children adopting healthy lifestyles that help prevent obesity   Fact: 43% of all D.C. school-age children are obese or overweight.
  • More children eating enough fruits and vegetables each day.  Fact: 81% of D.C. children do not get the USDA-recommended 5 fruits and vegetables a day.
  • More children being physically active.   Fact: Only about 30% of District children do the CDC-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day.
  • More children learning wellness and preventative health practices.