local wellness policies & the triennial assessmentusda does not specify the frequency of updates...

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Equity ● Quality ● Collaboration ● Community

Local Wellness Policies & The Triennial Assessment

Illinois State Board of EducationNutrition Department

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Local Wellness Policy Regulations

Triennial Assessments

Frequently Asked Questions

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Purpose• A local school wellness policy is a written document of official

policies that guide a local educational agency (LEA) or school district’s effort to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity

• Local School Wellness Policies:– Promote nutrition

– Promote student health

– Reduce childhood obesity

– Increase transparency with the public about the school wellness and nutrition environment

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Background• Local wellness policies were established by the Child Nutrition and

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

• LWPs were then strengthened by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA)

– Requires schools participating in the NSLP and/or SBP to establish a local wellness policy

• The USDA finalized regulations on July 29, 2016

• Local Education Agencies must be in compliance with the requirements of the Final Rule as of June 30th, 2017.


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RegulationsRegulations• Current Local Wellness Policy regulations governing

schools participating in the NSLP and SBP are located at 7 CFR 210.31

• Current regulations govern:

– Who must have a local wellness policy

– Content of the wellness policy

– Public involvement and notification

– Policy evaluation

– Recordkeeping

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Who Must Have a Local Wellness Policy?

• Each LEA participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP) is required to establish a written local school wellness policy for all schools under its jurisdiction

• LEAs have the flexibility to customize their individual local school wellness policy based on their own specific circumstances to best improve the health of their students

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Content of the Wellness Policy1. The wellness policy must include specific goals for:

*LEAs must review and consider evidence-based strategies when determining these goals

Nutrition Promotion

Nutrition Education

Physical Activity Other School-Based Activities

that Promote Wellness

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2. The wellness policy must include standards and nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages sold to students on the school campus during the school day

Content of the Wellness Policy

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• “School campus” = all areas of the property under the jurisdiction of the school that are accessible to students during the school day

• “School day” = the period from the midnight before, to 30 minutes after the end of the official school day


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• Smart Snacks in Schools -Smart Snacks Standards are a Federal requirement for all foods and beverages sold outside the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program


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3. The wellness policy must include standards for all foods and beverages provided, but not sold, to students on the school campus during the school day


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4. The wellness policy must include a policy for food and beverage marketing on the school campus during the school day


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• Only those foods and beverages that meet Smart Snacks Standards are permitted to be marketed on the school campus during the school day

• Marketing includes oral, written, or graphic statements made for the purpose of promoting the sale of a food or beverage item

• This can include, but is not limited to, posters, flyers, cups used for beverage dispensing, exterior of vending machines, coolers, trash cans, and other equipment


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5. The wellness policy must identify the position of the LEA or school official(s) responsible for the implementation and oversight of the local wellness policy


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6. The wellness policy must include a description of the manner in which these individuals are provided an opportunity to participate in the development, implementation, review, and updates of the policy


*LEAs are required to allow parents, students, school staff members, school board members, school administrators, and the general public to participate in local wellness policy processes

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7. The wellness policy must include a description of the plan for measuring implementation of the local wellness policy and reporting policy content and implementation information to the public


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Public Notification• LEAs are required to:

• Inform the public about the content and implementation of the LWP and make the policy and any updates available to the public annually

• Inform the public about progress toward meeting the goals of the local wellness policy and compliance with the policy by making the triennial assessment available to the public in an accessible and easily understood manner

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Policy Evaluation• LEAs are required to assess schools’ compliance

with the LWP at least once every 3 years

• LEAs must designate one or more LEA or school official to ensure that each participating school complies with the LWP

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Recordkeeping

• LEAs must retain the following records to document compliance with federal regulations:

– The written local wellness policy

– Documentation of the LWP being made available to the public

– The triennial assessment results for each school under the LEAs jurisdiction

– Documentation of the triennial assessment being made available to the public

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ISBE Local Wellness Policy Templates✓ Interactive Local Wellness Policy Template

✓ Meets USDA requirements

✓ Contains resources for guidance and ideas

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ISBE Local Wellness Policy Content Checklist

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• LEAs are required to assess schools’ compliance with the LWP at least once every 3 years

• The first triennial assessment was originally due June 30, 2020

• USDA has extended the deadline for the first triennial assessment to be completed by June 30, 2021• LEAs planning to use the extension were required to notify

ISBE’s Nutrition Department by June 30, 2020


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• The triennial assessment must include:

1. the extent to which schools are in compliance with the LWP

2. the extent to which the LEA’s wellness policy compares to model policies

3. a description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the local wellness policy


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ISBE Triennial Assessment Template

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When does the triennial assessment need to be completed?

Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the first triennial assessment was to be completed by June 30, 2020. However, for those schools that completed ISBE’s questionnaire to use USDA’s deadline extension, the first triennial assessment is due June 30, 2021. The triennial assessment must then be completed, at a minimum, every three years thereafter based on the date of the original triennial assessment. For example, if a District completed their first triennial assessment on June 30, 2020 the next triennial assessment would be due no later than June 30, 2023.


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How do I compare the Local Wellness Policy to Model Policies?

LEAs must compare their policy against model policies during the triennial assessment. The Alliance for a Healthier

Generation, in conjunction with USDA, developed a model wellness policy template that may be used for this comparison. Uconn’s Rudd Center for Food Policy &

Obesity’s WellSAT 3.0 tool may also be used for comparison.


https://www.healthiergeneration.org/take-action/schools/wellness-topics/policy-environment/local-school-wellness-policy/refresh-your

http://www.wellsat.org/

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What form should be used for the triennial assessment?

There is no required form that must be completed for the triennial assessment. LEAs have the flexibility to develop tools that will assess compliance with the specific components of their Local Wellness Policy. ISBE does have a Triennial Assessment Template available for schools that wish to use it, but it is not required.


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Does ISBE’s template have to be used for the triennial assessment?

No, schools do not have to use ISBE’s triennial assessment template. LEAs have the flexibility to develop tools that will assess compliance with the specific components of their local school wellness policy.


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Where do triennial assessments need to be submitted once they are complete?

Triennial assessments do not need to be submitted to ISBE once they are complete. LEAs should keep documentation of their triennial assessments with the Local Wellness Policy. Triennial assessment documentation will be reviewed by a monitor during an Administrative Review. Additionally, LEAs must make triennial assessment reports available to the public.


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Is there a state agency process for reviewing Local Wellness Policy triennial assessments?

During an Administrative Review, LEAs must provide documentation that a triennial assessment of the local school wellness policy was conducted for each school under its jurisdiction. Additionally, documentation demonstrating the LEA made the triennial assessments available to the public must be provided.


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How often does the Local Wellness Policy have to be updated?

USDA does not specify the frequency of updates to the local school wellness policy, as the need to update will vary based on the content and structure of the policy. However, it is recommended that the policy is updated, at a minimum, after conducting the triennial assessments. Any updates made to the policy must be shared annually with the public.


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Looking for More Information?

ISBE’s Local School Wellness Policy Information Webpage:

https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Local-School-Nutrition-Wellness-Policy.aspx

USDA’s Local School Wellness Policy Webpage:

https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/local-school-wellness-policy

https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Local-School-Nutrition-Wellness-Policy.aspx

https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/local-school-wellness-policy

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Contact Information

Nutrition Department

800.545.7892 or 217.782.2491

[email protected]

https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Nutrition-and-Wellness.aspx

mailto:[email protected]

https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Nutrition-and-Wellness.aspx

local wellness policies & the triennial assessmentusda does not specify the frequency of updates...

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