Quality and Enforcement of Local School Wellness Policies – Reasons for Concern

Background: Federal regulations required schools to adopt a district-wide wellness policy by 2006. Few research studies have examined the quality or enforcement of these policies within schools. An evaluation of local wellness policies and their practices at the building level is necessary to understand the impact of this mandate on promoting the health of children. Purpose: We assessed wellness policies and their enforcement in a sample of low-income Michigan school districts. Significance: This study is among the first to compare quality of wellness policies with school practices. Methodology: Wellness policies from 47 low-income school districts participating in the School Nutrition Advances Kids research project were qualitatively coded using the School Wellness Policy Evaluation Tool. This tool contains 96 items in seven categories (nutrition education, school meal standards, competitive food standards, physical education, physical activity, communication and promotion, and evaluation) on which each policy is scored, based on the comprehensiveness of topics covered, and the strength of statements. Administrators at middle schools in these districts completed a School Environment and Policy Survey, which contains questions regarding school practices and policy enforcement. Findings: On average, school wellness policies scored below 50% in comprehensiveness and below 30% in strength in the majority of the 7 scoring categories. Associations between written wellness policies and administrator-reported practices will be discussed. Conclusions: The quality of local wellness policies needs improvement. States can ensure compliance by legislatively mandating compliance with wellness policy regulations. Districts can ensure compliance by training school personnel and providing implementation resources.