NASBE Publication Relays State Strategies to Support Local Wellness Policies

January 24, 2008 - An Issue Brief released by the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) in October 2007 showcases promising state-level strategies that could strengthen local school wellness policies.  The brief's goal is to provide education policymakers with a broad overview of wellness policy strategies that have been implemented in several states across the country, and with that, strengthen the capacity of local school districts in developing their own wellness policies. 

The brief focuses on recent state laws, policies, and initiatives that specifically refer to the federal Section 204 requirements or use the term “wellness.”  NASBE has documented that at least 48 states have developed guidance materials or adopted new laws, regulations, or policies that specifically address Section 204 in their wellness policies.  According to the brief, these states are taking many different approaches to addressing the federal wellness policy mandate, often in partnership with state health departments, agriculture departments, and non-governmental organizations.

The state strategies relayed in the brief are grouped into seven sections:

  • Accountability requirements;
  • Policy content requirements;
  • Policy compliance checking;
  • Resolutions that encourage local policy adoption;
  • Policy guidance materials;
  • State-level advisory councils; and
  • Other state initiatives.

Each section includes examples of what individual states are doing.  The brief shows, for instance, that New Mexico requires each school district and charter school to create a district school health advisory council that meets twice annually to review all aspects of a local wellness policy. 

Additionally, the brief highlights promising strategies that some states have implemented including:

1)     Strengthening accountability to the state and to communities;

2)  Developing an ongoing system for policy evaluation;

3)  Developing an ongoing system for reporting the progress of policy implementation;

4)  Creating additional policy content requirements; and

5)     Providing state-specific resources.

The brief also includes an appendix which provides a summary of the activities and resources developed by states to help local education agencies (LEAs) address wellness policy requirements. 

Other state laws and policies related to school health can be found through NASBE’s online school health policy database. For additional information, please contact:

NASBE
277 S. Washington St., Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 684-4000
Fax: (703) 836-2313

Source: “Issue Brief: State Strategies to Support Local Wellness Policies,” Colin E. Pekruhn, MPP with James E. Bogden, MPH, NASBE, October 2007.


 

 
 
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