Linda Fischer, Im an Educational Specialist with ESE and I will be - - PDF document

Webinar: Local School Wellness Policies Thank you everyone for attending our webinar on Local Wellness Policies. My name is Linda Fischer, I’m an Educational Specialist with ESE and I will be presenting the webinar today. I’m joined today by my colleague, Ebonique Faria. Ebonique will be moderating the webinar for us today. Let’s get started. Confirmation of Attendance:  To receive confirmation of attendance: Enter your first & last name into the webinar system.  For those participating as a group (and who have not registered individually), please be sure to include the names of all participants in your group.  Participation certificates will only be issued to registered and confirmed attendees.  A survey will be sent via email after this webinar. Once the survey is completed, you Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 1

will be able to print a certificate.  The Power Point and handouts will be available on the security portal and the JSI website within the next week. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 1

Civil Rights/Non-Discrimination Statement: This Civil Rights/Non-Discrimination Statement MUST be included on any and all program materials associated with the Child Nutrition Programs. The statement must be the exact statement from USDA and can not be altered. The current statement can be found on The MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education child nutrition program website at www.doe.mass.edu/cnp

• r on USDA’s School Meals website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/child-

nutrition-programs 2 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Professional Standards This webinar provides 1.5 hours toward Professional Standards training requirements. The two key areas include: 1) Program Management Topic: 3230-Evaluate and utilize resources to promote a healthy school environment 2) Communications and Marketing Topic: 4150-Communicate within the school and to the community through multiple approaches to inform and educate stakeholders Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 3

Learning Objectives By the end of this presentation, participants will identify: 1) the required components of local school wellness policies. 2) the assessment and implementation criteria for local school wellness policies. 3) best practices and resources that may be used to strengthen local school wellness policies. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 4

What is a Local School Wellness Policy? A local school wellness policy (“wellness policy”) is a written document that guides a Local Educational Agency’s (LEA) or school district’s efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 5

History/Background

• The wellness policy requirement was established by the Child Nutrition and Special

Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004.

• It required LEAs participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or

School Breakfast Program (SBP) to develop a wellness policy by school year 2006. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 6

History/Background The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 further strengthened LWPs from 2004. The final rule expands the requirements to strengthen policies and increase transparency. The responsibility for developing, implementing, and evaluating a wellness policy is placed at the local level, so the unique needs of each school under the LEA’s jurisdiction can be addressed. Provisions of the Final Rule: On July 29, 2016, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) finalized regulations to create a framework and guidelines for written wellness policies established by LEAs. The final rule requires LEAs to begin developing a revised local school wellness policy during School Year 2016-2017. LEAs must fully comply with the requirements of the final rule by June 30, 2017. See USDA handout “Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010: Summary of the Final Rule” for more information. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 7

History/Background

• In July 2010, the Massachusetts legislature passed “An Act Relative to School

Nutrition” (MGL 223, Chapter 111, 105 CMR 215.00), which called for “regulations facilitating the establishment of School Wellness Advisory Committees”

• Regulations were passed by the Public Health Council in July 2011 and went into

effect in August 2012 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 8

History/Background

• Regulations for School Wellness Advisory Committees were developed to ensure

that all Massachusetts school districts have a system in place to deal effectively with school health issues. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 9

Local Discretion and Local Wellness Policies

• LEAs can determine the specific policies appropriate for the schools under their

jurisdiction.

• Local policies may be more strict but at a minimum, must include all required

elements specified in Federal and State regulations. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 10

Legislative Requirements of a Local School Wellness Policy

• Must be a group of individuals from the school/district
• Must be a standing committee (as opposed to a single-issue task force)
• The superintendent must be made aware of members of the wellness

committee/team

• The Wellness Committee is charged with making recommendations concerning

school health/wellness policies, programs, and practices

Legislative Requirements of a Local School Wellness Policy

• The committee must meet at least 4 times per year and keep minutes
• Conduct a needs assessment, and develop and implement an annual action plan
• Must include attention to nutrition, physical activity, obesity
• Build support with all stakeholders
• Monitor progress
• Write annual report and communicate

School Wellness Advisory Committee Membership At a minimum, LEAs must permit participation by:

• the general public and the school community including:
• parents
• students
• representatives of the school food authority
• teachers of physical education
• school health professionals
• the school board
• and school administrators in the wellness policy process.

Membership should reflect the cultural, linguistic, and ethnic composition of the community as much as possible. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 13

Stakeholder Participation LEAs are required to permit stakeholders in the:

• Development
• Implementation
• Periodic review
• Update of the LWP

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 14

Elements of a Written Local School Wellness Policy At a minimum, policies are required to include specific goals for:

• Nutrition education and promotion
• Physical activity
• Other school-based activities that promote student wellness including:
• Bullying Prevention Policies and Plans
• Tobacco-Free Schools
• Indoor Air Quality
• Sex Education
• Stress Reduction
• School district will provide a clean, safe, enjoyable meal environment for

students.

• School district will schedule lunch time as near the middle of the school day as

possible.

• School district will prohibit the use of food as a reward or punishment in

schools.

• Food or physical activity is not used as a reward or punishment.
• School district will make efforts to keep school or district-owned physical

activity facilities open for use by students outside school hours.

• Nutrition guidelines for all foods available or for sale on school campus

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 15

Elements of a Written Local School Wellness Policy At a minimum, must include goals for:

• Policies for other foods and beverages available during the school day (e.g., in classroom parties,

classroom snacks brought by parents, or other foods given as incentives)

• Special attention should be paid to students with food allergies and special dietary needs.
• Policies that allow marketing and advertising of only those foods and beverages that meet nutrition

standards

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 16

Elements of a Written Local School Wellness Policy

• LEAs should make information available describing how the wellness committee

is going to operate. The description should include information on public involvement, public updates, policy leadership and the evaluation plan for LWPs.

• LEAs are required to review and consider evidence-based strategies in

determining these goals. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 17

Annual Needs Assessment and Action Plan

• A needs assessment of LWPs must be conducted annually.
• Develop and implement an annual action plan with measurable goals and objective based
• n the needs assessment

Annual Action Plan

• Develop an annual action plan with measurable and observable goals and objectives to

promote student wellness based on your LWP

• Objectives should be SMART:

S – Specific M – Measureable A – Appropriate R – Realistic T – Time-linked

SMART Goal Examples 1) Over the current school year, Wilson Elementary School will increase physical education from 45 minutes/week to 90 minutes/week. 2) During the 2016-17 school year, Kennedy High School will increase the number of nutrition education instruction hours from 4 hours/semester to 8 hours/semester. 3) Over the year, increase fruit and vegetable consumption in the district by 20% for students participating in the NSLP.

Wellness Policy Documentation LEAs/schools must make the following documentation available to the State Agency for an Administrative Review, including:

• a copy or appropriate web address of the current LWP
• the most recent assessment of implementation of the policy

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 21

Wellness Policy Documentation

• documentation on how the policy and assessments are made available to the public
• documentation of efforts to review and update the policy, including who was

involved in the process and how stakeholders were made aware of their ability to participate Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 22

State Agency Assessment

• During an Administrative Review, the State Agency (SA) will examine and assess the

LWP for compliance with all regulations

• Any other “working” documents that go along with the main policy should be

provided to the SA for review (if applicable)

• For example, We have several school districts that set up “vague”

policies with another more detailed “procedural” document so they don’t have to constantly go to school committee every time a change is made. This is

• acceptable. However, when it comes time for an administrative review, we

(ESE) need(s) to see all relevant documents so we can assess/review what is actually happening within the school district. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 23

Public Notification

• LEAs are required to measure and make available to the public an assessment on the

implementation of LWP

• Information should be made available to parents, students, and others in the

community Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 24

Public Notification Examples of notification include:

• School website
• Newsletters
• Social media
• Press releases
• Email
• Parent nights
• Success stories

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 25

Wellness Leadership LEAs must establish wellness policy leadership of one or more LEA and/or school

• fficial(s) who have the authority and responsibility to ensure each school complies

with the policy. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 26

2015 MA School Wellness Policy Review In June 2015, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education contracted with John Snow Research & Training Institute, (JSI) to conduct an independent review of school wellness policies submitted in 2014 and 2015. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 27

2015 MA School Wellness Policy Review

• Schools submitted these policies in compliance with the USDA Administrative

Review and in accordance with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

• JSI used the WellSAT 2.0 tool developed by the Rudd Center for Food Policy &

Obesity. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 28

WellSAT 2.0

• The WellSAT 2.0 reflects new USDA school food requirements and current best

practices in all areas of school wellness.

• By completing the updated Wellness School Assessment Tool, WellSAT 2.0 users will

be able to assess the quality of their school district’s wellness policy*, and will be provided with personalized guidance and resources for making improvements, based

• n the assessment.

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 29

2015 MA School Wellness Policy Review The tool addresses 78 items, which are categorized into six sections: 1) nutrition education 2) school meals 3) competitive foods 4) physical education and physical activity 5) wellness promotion and marketing 6) implementation, evaluation, and communication

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 30

Results of Wellness Policy Review

• 216 school wellness policies were reviewed and scored in June 2015
• Each policy item was assessed for both strength and comprehensiveness
• Results of the assessment indicated that while many MA school districts have developed and adopted wellness policies, their

strength and comprehensiveness can be improved

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 31

STRENGTH Scores of Policies The average strength score of policies was 17.9 out of a range of 0-55 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 32

COMPREHENSIVENESS Scores of Policies The average comprehensiveness score of policies was 35.7 out of a range of 0-75 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 33

Working Together for Student Success

• In 2014, ASCD (formally know as the Association for Supervision and Curriculum

Development) partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to release the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model as the next evolution of the CDC’s coordinated school health approach.

• The WSCC Model is a 10-component model organized around the tenets of a Whole

Child approach to education. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 34

The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model:

• The model provides a framework that stakeholders—including schools, districts,

state boards of education, school and public health professionals, and community

• rganizations—can use to coordinate the educational and health policies, processes,

and practices that serve each child.

• Alignment, integration and collaboration improve each student’s cognitive, physical,

social and emotional development. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 35

Compliance with LWP Regulations: Where does your LEA stand?  Does your wellness committee have the members required by legislation?  Is the wellness committee meeting at least 4 times per year and keeping meeting minutes?  How are potential stakeholders made aware of their ability to participate in the development, review, update, and implementation of the LWP? Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 36

Compliance with LWP Regulations: Where does your LEA stand?  Does the committee conduct an annual needs assessment review of current school programs?  Has the committee implemented an annual action plan with measurable goals and objectives?  How is your LEA working together to promote student success? Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 37

Compliance with LWP Regulations: Where does your LEA stand?  How does the public know about the results of the most recent assessment

• n the implementation of the LWP?

 If applicable, what needs to happen to bring the LWP into compliance with regulations? Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 38

Resources: The Wellness Solution for Massachusetts An updated resource to support and strengthen wellness policies specifically in Massachusetts schools. The site summarizes state and federal regulations to clarify all requirements and help schools streamline policy development and monitoring. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 39

Resources: School Nutrition Environment and Wellness Resources This Web site is dedicated to helping local educational agencies find the resources they need to meet recommendations for Local School Wellness Policies. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 40

Resources: USDA’s Team Nutrition and the Healthy Meals Resource System

• A Web site developed to help local educational agencies meet the local school

wellness policy requirements and establish a healthier school nutrition environment.

• The recently updated School Nutrition Environment and Wellness Resources Web

site provides information and resources on: Local School Wellness Policy Process steps to build, implement, and monitor your policy. Wellness Policy Elements to meet the federal requirements Success Stories Grants/Funding Opportunities related to child nutrition and physical activity Trainings Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 41

Resources: USDA Local School Wellness Policy Outreach Toolkit

• Share news about your LWP and engage school staff and parents in school wellness

using USDA’s ready-to-go communication tools in USDA’s Local School Wellness Policy Outreach Toolkit.

• The toolkit includes: flyers, presentations, newsletter articles, and social media
• posts. Your school can personalize them to make them specific to your Local School

Wellness Policy activities. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 42

Resources: Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) was founded in 2002 by former Surgeon General David

• Satcher. Today, AFHK has more than 80,000 members and constituents in our network.

They also partner with dozens of professional associations, government agencies and corporations at the national and local level.

• The goal of AFHK is to fight childhood obesity, undernourishment and physical

inactivity by helping schools become healthier places so kids can live healthier lives.

• To assist schools, AFHK provides: Funding; School Wellness Team Trainings;

Tools/Resources

• Action for Healthy Kids offers a wide variety of virtual learning opportunities from

school breakfast programs and recess before lunch to wellness policy implementation and more. Most sessions are of no cost and are open to any interested individual or group. Go to the AFHK website to register for all webinars. Webinar Today!

• Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 4:00pm-4:30pm ET - Wellness Wednesday:

Nudge Kids to Eat Better at School: Smarter Lunchroom Strategies that Work Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 43

Resources: The Alliance for a Healthier Generation provides a model policy template that is in compliance with the requirements set forth in USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service proposed rule and will be updated per the final rule. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 44

Resources: ASCD's Whole Child approach is an effort to transition from a focus on narrowly defined academic achievement to one that promotes the long-term development and success of all children. They assist educators, families, community members, and policymakers move from a vision about educating the whole child to sustainable, collaborative action. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 45

Resources: ADCD compiled this WSCC implementation resource (which includes information from more than a dozen states, two dozen large school districts, community-based groups, and many organizations across the fields of education, public health, and school health) that have put the model into practice and how they are using it to ensure the well- being of each child. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 46

Resources:

• The Wellness School Assessment Tool (WellSAT) 2.0 provides a standard method for

the quantitative assessment of school wellness policies.

• This tool offers a consistent and reliable means of assessing the comprehensiveness

and strength of school wellness policies within or among states.

• It was developed in 2010 and updated in 2014 by researchers funded by the Robert

Wood Johnson Foundation. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 47

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 48

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 49

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 50