Per US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations, local education agencies (LEA) participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP) are required to develop a Local Wellness Policy (LWP) that promotes the health of students and addresses the problem of childhood obesity. Local wellness policies (LWP) function as frameworks for LEAs to establish nutritional standards for school foods and to set guidelines and goals for physical and health education, physical activity, and other school-based programs designed to promote student wellness. The Healthy Schools Act (HSA) further establishes a requirement for District LEAs to develop and adopt an LWP in accordance with federal law. The USDA and the HSA require LEAs to update and strengthen their LWPs every three years.
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) Division of Health and Wellness supports these mandates and provides technical assistance, guidance, and training to assist LEAs with the development, implementation, and update of their policies to maintain compliance with USDA and HSA requirements.
OSSE has made available an LWP template, a guide on the background and requirements for the LWP, and an accompanying LWP checklist to assist your local wellness committee with including all legislative requirements in the policy. These optional resources are intended to support LEAs in meeting federal and local LWP requirement and in creating high-quality LWPs that are aligned to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model. These resources are currently available in Orchard and for download below. These resources are intended to position LEAs to meet and exceed all the requirements of the LWP, while also supporting LEAs in tracking all updates and implementation efforts on an annual basis.
Please email the OSSE with any questions at [email protected].
Related Content: Healthy Schools Act (HSA); Local Wellness Policy Summer Series Webinar
