O4 Assessment of New York State Local Wellness Policies

Abstract

Background Under the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, local educational agencies participating in the National School Lunch or Breakfast Program are required to establish local wellness policies (LWPs). LWPs aim to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity standards and programming in school districts. Objective To evaluate the strength and comprehensiveness of the LWPs of a representative sample of New York State public school districts. Study Design, Settings, Participants We used publicly available district-level data from the Common Core of Data and the American Community Survey. To select our sample, the Generalizer was used to generate six strata, using the following criteria: percentage of students receiving free and reduced lunch, English Language learners, identify as Black, Hispanic, Asian or White, and urbanicity. The Generalizer tool determined how many schools to select from each stratum to obtain a sample (n = 111 districts) that is generalizable to the entire state. Measurable Outcome/Analysis To assess LWPs, we utilized WellSAT. WellSAT is an evaluation tool that scores LWPs and identifies areas for improvement. WellSAT includes items that are required by federal law and items identified as best practices. With WellSAT, the LWPs of the selected districts were assessed using 67 items across six domains: Nutrition Education; Standards for USDA Child Nutrition Programs and School Meals; Nutrition Standards for Competitive and Other Foods and Beverages; Physical Education and Activity; Wellness Promotion and Marketing; and Implementation, Evaluation and Communication. Results The majority of LWPs included most federal requirements. However, many lacked items that are thought of as best practices, such as the incorporation of nutrition education into other subjects. Many policies included vague or weak language. Conclusion While many New York LWPs met federal requirements, they often lack clear language and best practices, which can make it challenging for school personnel to interpret and implement the policy. Additional research is needed to better understand what resources school districts need to strengthen their policies. Funding None.