The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires each school food authority (SCHOOL DISTRICT) participating in one of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs (National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk, Seamless Summer or Summer Meals) to have a Local Wellness Policy in place BY JUNE 30, 2006, for the School Year 2006-2007.
FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS:
The Local Wellness Policy must address the following five (5) requirements as outlined in the Reauthorization Act:
1. GOALS FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND OTHER SCHOOL-BASED ACTIVITIES that are designed to promote student wellness in a manner that the district determines is appropriate;
2. NUTRITION GUIDELINES selected by the district for all foods available on each school campus during the school day with the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity;
3. GUIDELINES FOR REIMBURSABLE SCHOOL MEALS that are no less restrictive than regulations and guidance issued by the USDA in Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 10 of the Child Nutrition Act (42 U.S.C. 1779) and Section 9(f)(1) and 17(a) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758)(f)(1), 1766(a);
4. A PLAN FOR MEASURING IMPLEMENTATION of the Local Wellness Policy, including the DESIGNATION OF ONE (1) OR MORE PERSONS within the district or at each school, who is responsible for ensuring that each school fulfills the district's Local Wellness Policy;
5. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT in the development of the Local Wellness Policy to include parents, students and representatives (child nutrition director) of the school food authority, the school board, school administrators and the public.
School districts in compliance with the Arkansas Nutrition and Physical Activity Standard regulations may meet the five federal Wellness Policy requirements by adding any other applicable school district wellness policies to these state requirements. A “Wellness Policy Reporting Form” has been developed by CNU and will be distributed at the workshops described below.
DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE:
Submission of a district's Wellness Policy will be required as part of the renewal of the district’s Child Nutrition Program Agreement and Policy Statement for Free and Reduced Price Meal Eligibility for the SY 2006-2007. The renewal process must be completed by July 1, 2006.
SCHOOL DISTRICT TRAINING:
The Child Nutrition Unit (CNU), Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) will provide Wellness Policy training to assist school districts with:
· Identifying policy development resources,
· Incorporating the state Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards regulations as part of the district’s Wellness Policy, and
· Using the reporting form for submission of the policies to CNU.
CNU will conduct twenty (20) Wellness Policy Workshops across the state of Arkansas. See attachment for Registration Form with list of locations and dates of workshops. Each two-hour workshop will be held from 2 pm to 4 pm. Specific directions for each workshop location will be provided with the registration confirmation sent to the district contact person.
Districts are encouraged to send current members of a district’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee (NPAC) to this training, since the makeup of the NPAC is basically the same as for the federal community involvement requirement. Each district registered for a workshop will need to bring a copy of the current district NPAC committee members’ names and contact information to the training to update the state NPAC list.
There is NO REGISTRATION FEE. However, workshop ATTENDANCE IS LIMITED! Workshops will be filled on a first come, first served basis. A DISTRICT REGISTRATION FORM must be received at least five (5) days prior to each workshop. Please identify a SECOND CHOICE of location and date for attendance, in case the first choice of date and location is full.
Return Registration Form to:
Trenie Stanley, Training Secretary
Child Nutrition Unit
Arkansas Department of Education
2020 W. Third Street, Suite 404
Little Rock, AR 72205
FAX: (501) 324-9505