Local School Wellness Policy

Outline of LSWP Requirements

Final Rule of 2016

On July 29, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), released finalized regulations to create a framework and guidelines for written LSWP entitled Final Rule: Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Heatlhy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 . The Final Rule (FR) became effective on August 29, 2016. 

The LSWP requirements apply to LEAs who participate in the NSLP and SBP. It mandates that all LEAs meet expanded LSWP requirements set forth in Section 204 of the HHFKA. The LSWP provision established the framework for the content of LSWP, ensures stakeholder participation in the development of such policies, and requires triennial assessment of compliance and reporting on the progress toward achieving the LSWP goals. Since June 30, 2017, the LSWP, at a minimum, must include:

• Measurable goals for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that promote student wellness
  
  
• Nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages sold or made available on school campus during the school day
  
  
• Policies for food and beverage marketing
  
  
• Requirements that stakeholders be provided opportunities to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the wellness policy
  
  
• A plan for measuring effectiveness that is measured triennially and made available to the public
  
  
• Annual notification informing and updating the public (parents, students, and others in the community) about the content and implementation of the LSWP
  
  
• Designation of one or more LEA officials or school officials by position or title, to ensure that each school complies with the LSWP
  
  

The USDA provides a useful Summary of the FR (PDF).

Background and History

Child Nutrition and Women, Infants and Children’s Reauthorization Act of 2004

The Child Nutrition and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004 mandated that all LEAs participating in a federal meal reimbursement program establish a LSWP.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

On December 13, 2010, President Obama signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 (PDF) reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Programs. Section 204 added Section 9A to the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (Title 42, U.S. Code 1758b), LSWP Implementation. The provisions enhanced the previous LSWP requirements, strengthening requirements for ongoing implementation, assessment, and public reporting of wellness policies and expanding the team of collaborators participating in the wellness policy development to include more members from the community.

Local School Wellness Policy Implementation under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Proposed Rule of 2014

On February 26, 2014, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), released its proposed LSWP regulations entitled the Proposed Rules for Local School Wellness Policy Implementation under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Comments were due on April 28, 2014.

Final Rule of 2016

On July 29, 2016, the USDA FNS released finalized regulations to create a framework and guidelines for written LSWP entitled Final Rule: Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the HHFKA of 2010 . The Final Rule (FR) became effective on August 29, 2016. 

The new LSWP requirements apply to LEAs who participate in the NSLP and SBP. It mandates that all LEAs meet expanded LSWP requirements set forth in Section 204 of the HHFKA. The LSWP provision establishes the framework for the content of LSWP, ensures stakeholder participation in the development of such policies, and requires triennial assessment of compliance and reporting on the progress toward achieving the LSWP goals. By June 30, 2017, the LSWP, at a minimum, must include:

• Measurable goals for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that promote student wellness
  
  
• Nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages sold or made available on school campus during the school day
  
  
• Policies for food and beverage marketing
  
  
• Requirements that stakeholders be provided opportunities to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the wellness policy
  
  
• A plan for measuring effectiveness that is measured triennially and made available to the public
  
  
• Annual notification informing and updating the public (parents, students, and others in the community) about the content and implementation of the LSWP
  
  
• Designation of one or more LEA officials or school officials, by position or title, to ensure that each school complies with the LSWP

The USDA provides a useful Summary of the FR (PDF).

Compliance

The California Department of Education (CDE) monitors compliance with the Local School Wellness Policy (LSWP) during the administrative review (AR), which occur every three years. The CDE conducts both an off-site assessment and an on-site review for the AR and provides technical assistance when the standards are not met. Please see the following AR guidance:

• AR Off-site Assessment Tool (OAT) Guidance
  Sponsors are required to complete the OAT prior to the on-site review. To download the OAT guidance in the Child Nutrition Information and Payment System (CNIPS), select School Nutrition Programs (SNP), select Applications, Downloadable Forms, and Form ID SNP 58 AR. For LSWP information, refer to pages 28–30 and questions 1000–1006.
  
  
• AR Guidance Chart
  Once the OAT is completed, the AR reviewer conducts an on-site review to validate the information submitted in the OAT and to observe the operation of programs at the school food authority and in selected school sites. Prior to the on-site AR, the state reviewer sends sponsors the AR Guidance Chart. Sponsors can then prepare all required documents. To download the guidance chart in CNIPS, select SNP, select Applications, Downloadable Forms, and Form ID SNP 42. For LSWP information, refer to page 16.
  
  
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) AR Manual                                                    
  The USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) provides general guidance to state agencies on the areas of review. For complete transparency and to download the AR Manual in CNIPS, select SNP, select Applications, Downloadable Forms, and Form ID Manual AR. For LSWP information, refer to pages 151–156.

For more information regarding AR, you can visit the CDE SNP AR web page.

Trainings

Online Trainings

Course Number	Course Name	Training Topic	Target Audience
California Department of Education (Course #310)	Build the Local School Wellness Policy	Wellness Policy	Food Service Director and Staff
California Department of Education (Course #886)	LSWP Requirements Online Training	Wellness Policy	Food Service Director and Staff
Institute of Child Nutrition (External Source)	Team Up with LSWPs (Video; 1:03:06)	Wellness Policy	Food Service Director and Staff
National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (External Source)	Looking Back and Looking Forward: Nine Years of School District Wellness Policy Implementation	Wellness Policy	Food Service Director and Staff
California Department of Public Health, CA LSWP Collaborative Webinar Series (External Source)	LSWP Basics: What you Need to Know to Put Your Wellness Policy in Place	Wellness Policy	Food Service Director and Staff

Resources

Tool Kits
Examples of Policy Language
Wellness Policy Assessment Tools
General Resources

Tool Kits

Resource	Description
California LSWP Collaborative LSWP Committee Guide (PDF)	Provides a comprehensive guide with resources for facilitating a wellness committee including sample agendas for meetings and selected resources.
California Food Policy Advocates School Nutrition for Academic Success–Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP) Guide (PDF)	Provides a tool kit with resources and general guidance on how to incorporate nutrition actions into LCAP.
California Project LEAN Parent Engagement in School Wellness Policy Tool Kit	Provides resources and tools to help school stakeholders engage parents in LSWP implementation, monitoring, and evaluation requirements. The tool kit provides strategies for involving parents, resources for assessing the school environment, fact sheets on relevant school nutrition and physical activity topics, and parent education resources. This tool kit is also available in Spanish.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Team Nutrition LSWP Outreach Tool Kit	Provides ready to go resources that school districts and school sites can customize to communicate information about their LSWP to parents and staff.
Live Well San Diego Tools for Schools	Provides a searchable database of resources based on a broader definition of wellness that includes health equity and a focus on addressing health disparities.
School-based Health Alliance  Hallways to Health: Creating a Schoolwide Culture of Wellness	Provides an online tool kit which is based on four years of experience with the Hallways to Health model for the school health field to adopt population-level, schoolwide health and wellness initiatives.
Healthy Schools Campaign and Alliance for a Healthier Generation Using Needs Assessments to Connect Learning and Health: Opportunities in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) guide (PDF)	Highlights numerous ways that schools can conduct needs assessments. Provides resources to identify, understand, and address health conditions that contribute to poor academic performance and chronic absenteeism.

Examples of Policy Language

Resource	Description
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation Model Wellness Policy sample language	Provides sample LSWP language designed to promote optimal wellness policy implementation. LEAs can adapt the sample language to local priorities. Users must create a log-in to access the resources.
California School Board Association Student Wellness (PDF) sample policy	Provides a sample wellness policy that addresses the minimum requirements.
San Diego County Obesity Prevention Initiative Policy Clearinghouse web page	Includes wellness policies from 40 San Diego County school districts, a model wellness policy, and examples of policy language related to 20 school wellness topics.
San Diego County Obesity Prevention Initiative School and After School Resources	Provides selected resource sheets and model policy language for 13 school wellness topics, including social, emotional and mental health, lactation accommodation, and preschools.
San Diego County Obesity Prevention Initiative Wellness Policy Component: Wellness Policy Component: Social, Emotional and Mental Health (PDF) chart	Provides a chart with multiple examples of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) language that have been included in a San Diego school district LSWPs.
Arizona Department of Education Fillable Wellness Policy Template (DOCX)	Provides a template that can be used to write a wellness policy, if adapted to California standards.
Dairy Council of California School Wellness Policies	Provides access to a compendium of wellness policies from California schools.
Idaho Department of Education Sample for Residential Child Care Institutes Wellness Policy	Provides a sample LSWP for RCCIs that can be tailored.
Smarter Lunchrooms Movement of California Smarter Lunchrooms and the LSWP (PDF)	Provides sample language for including the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement practices into LSWP.
Public Health Law Institutes Sample School Wellness Policy: Farm to School (PDF)	Provides sample language for including Farm to School practices into LSWP.
Change Lab Solutions Food and Beverage Marketing: Model Wellness Policy Language (PDF)	Provides sample language for including food and beverage marketing policy language into LSWP
Change Lab Solutions Addressing Bullying in LSWPs (DOC) sample language	Provides sample language for including anti-bullying practices into LSWP.
The USDA FNS Nondiscrimination Statement web page	Provides required federal nondiscrimination language to be included in wellness policies.

Wellness Policy Assessment Tools

Resource	Description
California LSWP Collaborative Triennial Assessment Template for LEAs web page	Provides a template for LEAs to complete the LSWP Triennial Assessment. The template includes four components: comparison to a model LSWP, progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy, extent of compliance for all schools with the District LSWP, and Triennial Assessment report to the public.
California LSWP Collaborative Does your Local School Wellness Policy Measure Up? checklist (PDF)	Provides a checklist to assess compliance with the LSWP requirements and to prepare for the administrative review (AR).
California LSWP Collaborative Implementation Plan Template (DOCX)	Provides a template, based on California Project LEAN’s model, for completing the implementation plan. Can be used to fulfill the requirements of the triennial assessment, assess compliance with the LSWP, and progress in attaining the LSWP goals.
California LSWP Collaborative Triennial Assessment Guidance (DOCX)	Provides a tool to guide LEAs in conducting the required triennial assessment to assess: (1) comparison to a model policy, (2) compliance with the LSWP, and (3) progress in attaining the LSWP goals.
Torrance Unified School District Creating a Culture of Wellness (PDF)	Provides an example of how to meet the requirements for an annual update of the wellness policy.
The Rudd Center WellSAT: 3.0 Wellness School Assessment Tool	Provides a free, online self-assessment tool that calculates a score that evaluates the comprehensiveness and strength of LSWPs. Can be used to fulfill the requirement of the triennial assessment to assess comparison to a model policy.
Arizona Department of Education Annual Wellness Policy Report (DOCX)	Provides a fillable template that can be completed to meet the requirements for an annual update of the wellness policy.
University of California Davis Center for Nutrition in Schools School and Community Actions for Nutrition Survey (PDF)	Provides a rubric with a scoring system to assess LSWP. Can be used to fulfill the requirements of the triennial assessment to assess compliance with the LSWP, and progress in attaining the LSWP goals.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention School Health Index web page	Provides a tool to conduct a baseline and ongoing assessment of the LSWP implementation. Can be used to fulfill the requirements of the triennial assessment to assess compliance with the LSWP, and progress in attaining the LSWP goals.

General Resources

Policy

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) has issued the following policy memoranda related to LSWPs. When merited, the California Department of Education (CDE) will release a subsequent management bulletin to include state specific policy guidance and/or further explain or clarify the topic.

Release Date	Issued by	Subject	Reference Number
December 2017	The CDE	Local School Wellness Policy Final Rule - Revised Provides federal and state law requirements under the heading Policies for Food and Beverage Marketing.	SNP-13-2017
April 2017	The USDA FNS	Local School Wellness Policy: Guidance and Questions and Answers (PDF) Provides additional guidance from the USDA FNS on how to implement the 2016 Final Rule for LSWP, including information about the food and beverage marketing policy requirement.	SP 24-2017

Contacts

If you have any questions, please contact the California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division by phone at 800-952-5609 or by email at LSWP@cde.ca.gov.