Wellness Policies

about wellness policies in the Healthy Schools Act

Local Wellness Policies set nutrition guidelines for foods available on campus during the school day, as well as goals for school meal program participation, nutrition education, and physical activity. All local educational agencies participating in the National School Lunch Program were required to adopt a Local Wellness Policy (LWP) by 2006.

D.C. Public Schools and public charter schools have wellness policies. In fact, experts consider DCPS’ Local Wellness Policy, which has been adopted by many District charter schools as well, to be one of the strongest in the country.

The Healthy Schools Act makes D.C. schools’ Local Wellness Policies even stronger. The Act requires each local education agency (DCPS and each charter school) to collaborate with parents, students, food service providers, and community organizations to develop, adopt, and update a comprehensive local wellness policy - Local Wellness Policies now must reflect D.C.’s enhanced nutrition, health, and physical activity requirements. Policies must be revised at least once every 3 years.

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) will review each local wellness policy to ensure that it complies with federal requirements and shall examine whether schools comply with their policies.

put the Act into action!

To comply with Title VI of the Healthy Schools Act, your school must:

1. Develop a Local Wellness Policy team to help shape the D.C. Public Schools’ or each public charter school’s Wellness Policy. The team should include parents, students, food service providers, and community organizations.

2. Make sure the LWP complies with the requirements set forth in federal law and includes goals, required under the Healthy Schools Act, for:

  • Improving the environmental sustainability of schools
  • Increasing the use of locally-grown, locally-processed, and unprocessed foods from growers engaged in sustainable agriculture practices
  • Increasing physical activity

3. Promote the LWP. The Healthy Schools Act requires D.C. public and public charter schools to promote their local wellness policy to faculty, staff, parents, and students. A copy shall be:

  • Posted on each school’s website, if it has one
  • Distributed to food service staff members
  • Distributed to the school’s parent/teacher organization, if it has one
  • Made available in each school’s office.

resources

  • Local Wellness Policies in D.C. Schools - resources from D.C. Hunger Solutions
  • Local School Wellness Policies - resources from the Food Research and Action Center