Local wellness policies are an important tool for parents, local education agencies (LEAs) and school districts in promoting student wellness, preventing and reducing childhood obesity, and providing assurance that school meal nutrition guidelines meet the minimum federal school meal standards.

The local school wellness policy is a written plan that includes goals aimed at creating a healthy school environment. Each Local Educational Agency (LEA) must establish a local wellness policy for all sites under its jurisdiction that participate in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program.

The local school wellness policy is an important tool that brings LEAs, school nutrition program administrators, parents and communities together to:

• Promote student wellness,
• Prevent and reduce childhood obesity, and
• Provide an assurance that school meals and other food and beverages sold and otherwise made available on the school campus during the school day are consistent with minimum federal and state standards.

The wellness policy requirement was established in 2004 by the Child Nutrition and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act and expanded in 2010 by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA).

Effective in 2016, the HHFKA strengthened the requirements on public involvement, transparency, implementation and evaluation, and reporting. The resources below outline the requirements of the current rule:

• USDA: Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 Final Rule [ 318.8 kB ]
• USDA Summary of Final Rule [ 474.2 kB ]

In Florida, local school wellness policies are addressed in Section 1003.453, Florida Statutes. State standards for school meals and other food and beverages on the school campus are a key part of the wellness policy and are addressed in Rule 5P-2.002, Florida Administrative Code.  

Please contact your school or school district for a copy of its wellness policy. 

Program Resources

Implementation and Assessment Guidance

• FDACS Local School Wellness Policy Compliance Checklist (2024) [ 57.5 kB ]
  • Model Policy – Districts (2024) [ 793.7 kB ]
  • Model Policy – Private & Charter (2024) [ 49.1 kB ]
  • Model Policy – RCCI (2024) [ 859.8 kB ]
• FDACS Healthy School Teams and Assessment
• Local Process: How to Develop, Implement, and Evaluate a Wellness Policy
• USDA Local School Wellness Policy Outreach Tool Kit
• USDA Overview of the Local School Wellness Policy

Nutrition Promotion and Education

• CDC Comprehensive Framework for Addressing the School Nutrition Environment and Services
• Team Nutrition Resource Library
• USDA Food Marketing and Advertising Resources
• USDA Nutrition Education Resources

Nutrition Standards for All Food and Beverages Sold

• Alliance for a Healthier Generation Smart Snacks Product Calculator
• Alliance for a Healthier Generation Smart Food Planner
• FDACS Smart Snacks in School Webpage
• Smart Snacks in School Final Rule
• Team Nutrition: A Guide to Smart Snacks in School
• Action for Healthy Kids Healthy Fundraising Ideas
• USDA Best Practices for Healthy School Fundraisers [ Adobe PDF Document ]

Nutrition Standards for All Non-Sold Food and Beverages

• USDA Student Incentives and Non-Food Rewards

Physical Activity Resources

• FL DOE K-12 Physical Education
• Play 60
• USDA Physical Activity Resources
• Alliance for a Healthier Generation Physical Activity Task Cards [ Adobe PDF Document ]

Other School-Based Activities Resources

• Alliance for a Healthier Generation Staff Wellness
• CDC School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
• Florida DOE Comprehensive Health Education Secondary Tool Kit [ Adobe PDF Document ]
• Safe Routes to School National Partnership
• Team Nutrition Popular Events Idea Booklet

Supporting Local School Wellness Policies

• Action for Healthy Kids Game On: 6 Steps to Building a Healthy School
• Alliance for a Healthier Generation Local School Wellness Policy Advocate Guide
• Alliance for a Healthier Generation Sample Invitation for School Wellness Committee [ Adobe PDF Document ]
• Alliance for a Healthier Generation School Wellness Committee Tool Kit [ 5.1 MB ]
• CDC Putting Local School Wellness Policies Into Action: Stories from School Districts and Schools [ Adobe PDF Document ]
• NFSMI Resource to Sustain and Strengthen Local Wellness Initiatives [ 3.3 MB ]
• USDA Healthy Meals Resource System — School Nutrition Environment and Wellness Resources
• USDA School Nutrition Environment and Wellness Resources