District Wellness Policies

This page highlights research products related to our annual collection and coding of school district wellness policies. To see products from other research activities, click on the "Research" tab above.

Report

June 2016 Report

School District Wellness Policies: Evaluating Progress and Potential for Improving Children's Health Eight Years After the Federal Mandate

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Local Wellness Policies: Where Do They Stand and What Can You Do?

Updated for SY 2012–2013: Bridging the Gap and CDC Briefs

Promoting Health through Local School Wellness Policies

SEE ALL 7 TOPIC AREA BRIEFS

 

For more on the National Wellness Policy Study post-2015, visit: http://go.uic.edu/NWPSproducts.



Featured Research Product: June 2016 Report

School District Wellness Policies: Evaluating Progress and Potential for Improving Children’s Health Eight Years after the Federal Mandate (Volume 4)

This report updates data published in February 2013 and evaluates written school district wellness policies from school years 2006-07 through 2013-14, the first eight years following the required implementation date for the federal mandate. Using a nationally representative sample of school districts, this report provides details about the characteristics of these districts as well as the individual components of wellness policies and related provisions. New to this report are data that evaluate the comprehensiveness and strength of wellness policies across all policy categories based on district characteristic. In addition, this report continues to track detailed competitive food and beverage standards by location of sale during the school year immediately prior to the implementation of Smart Snacks. The major findings and trends presented identify areas where progress has been made in adopting and strengthening wellness policies, as well as opportunities for improvement.

Download June 2016 Report >

Featured Research Products: March 2015

Updated for School Year 2012–2013: Bridging the Gap and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Briefs 

Promoting Health through Local School Wellness Policies

Using data from the 2012-13 school year, researchers with Bridging the Gap's National Wellness Policy Study collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to update a series of briefs and an accompanying PowerPoint presentation highlighting opportunities to support wellness policies through evidence-based strategies. These briefs provide an assessment of policies across school districts nationwide related to seven wellness policy components. They also highlight areas of opportunity for state agencies, school districts, and schools to strengthen wellness policy components.  The PowerPoint presentation provides stakeholders with an easy-to-use resource to present the research findings, recommendations, resources, and other information found in the briefs.

Local School Wellness Policies: Where Do They Stand and What Can You Do? [PDF]

Supporting Quality Physical Education and Physical Activity in Schools [PDF]

Supporting Recess in Elementary Schools [PDF]

Creating Supportive School Nutrition Environments [PDF]

Improving Access to Drinking Water in Schools [PDF]

Marketing and Promotion of Foods and Beverages at School [PDF]

Addressing Weight Status Measurement in Schools [PDF]

Methods Document for the CDC and Bridging the Gap Local School Wellness Policy Briefs [PDF]

Presentation to accompany the CDC and Bridging the Gap Local School Wellness Policy Briefs [PDF] [PPT]


February 2013 Report

School District Wellness Policies: Evaluating Progress and Potential for Improving Children's Health Five Years After the Federal Mandate (Volume 3)

This new report examines the latest data on wellness policies from nationally representative samples of school districts for each year, 2006-07 through 2010-11. The report shows trends and comparisons in policy provisions, e.g., school meal guidelines, competitive food and beverage guildelines, physical activity goals, and other federally-required provisions, that were in effect during the 2006-07 and the 2010-11 school years. It also includes new data on wellness policy reporting requirements and a comparison of districts' competitive food and beverage guidelines with the 2007 Institute of Medicine (IOM) nutritional standards for foods in schools.

Download February 2013 Report >


August 2010 Report

School District Wellness Policies: Evaluating Progress and Potential for Improving Children's Health Three Years After the Federal Mandate (Volume 2)

This report, released in August of 2010, presents updated data from our comprehensive review of wellness policies from nationally representative samples of school districts. The report examines districts' policy provisions for school meal guidelines, physical activity goals, and other requirements of the federal mandate. It also compares districts' competitive food and beverage guidelines with the 2007 Institute of Medicine (IOM) nutritional standards for foods in schools. Data are presented for 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09 (the three school years immediately following the required adoption date for these policies), and detailed data on competitive food and beverage guildelines are provided for school year 2008-09.

Download August 2010 Report >


July 2009 Report

Local Wellness Policies: Assessing School District Strategies for Improving Children's Health (Volume 1)

This report, released in July of 2009, presents data from the first comprehensive review of wellness policies from a nationally representative sample of school districts. Our researchers evaluated policies related to nutrition education, school meals, competitive food and beverage guidelines, physical activity, physical education, food and beverage marketing in schools, and evaluation strategies for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years, the first two years of the wellness policy requirement.

Download July 2009 Report >

Download July 2009 Executive Summary >


In 2006, Bridging the Gap began an ongoing, large-scale study to gather nationally representative data about school district policies and school practices relevant to childhood obesity.

- Learn more about our study of elementary school practices
- Learn more about our study of secondary school practices

ARCHIVES

SY 2011–12 BTG & CDC Local Wellness Policy Briefs (Issued May 2014)

Local School Wellness Policies: Overview [PDF]

PE and Physical Activity [PDF]

Recess [PDF]

School Nutrition [PDF]

Access to Drinking Water [PDF]

Marketing [PDF]

Weight Status Measurement [PDF]

Methods document [PDF]

Presentation to accompany briefs [PDF] [PPT]

May 2014 Presentation Slides

Resources to Support Local School Wellness Policy Revision and Implementation

This presentation provides an overview of the new proposed requirements for local school wellness policies; introduces the new series of research briefs that can inform revision and implementation of wellness policies; and identifies key resources from USDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Action for Healthy Kids for states and school districts working on wellness policies.

Download PDF >

Video Q&A

Lead author of this report, Jamie Chriqui, Ph.D., M.H.S., of the University of Illinois at Chicago, answers several questions about its key findings and policy opportunities.

Data

These files include information in Local Wellness Policies: Assessing School District Strategies for Improving Children’s Health: School Years 2006-07 and 2007-08, as well as additional information not found in the July 2009 report. Data are presented by race/ethnicity of the districts’ students, socioeconomic status, geographic region and locale. Data for the 2008-09 school year coming soon.

Download Excel >

Download PDF >

Wellness Policy Coding Tool

These files provide the coding tools utilized to evaluate the school district wellness policies in place by the first day of the 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years.

Download 2006-08 coding tool >

Download 2008-09 coding tool >

Presentation Slides

These slides provide a brief overview of the district wellness policy study methods and highlight findings from the 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years.

Download PDF >

Action for Healthy Kids webinar recording >

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