Local School Wellness Policy
Information regarding the 2016 Local School Wellness Policy (LSWP) requirements, background, compliance, training, resources, and policy guidance, for Local Educational Agencies (LEA).Overview
Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) that participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), and the School Breakfast Program (SBP), are required by federal law to establish a Local School Wellness Policy (LSWP) for all schools under its jurisdiction. These LEA LSWPs are an important tool for parents, administrators, teachers, and their communities in promoting a student’s overall wellness and health, and academic success. The LSWP development, implementation and assessment is the responsibility of the LEA.
Outline of LSWP Requirements
Final Rule of 2016
On July 29, 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA), released a final rule (81 FR 50151) creating requirements for LEAs to adopt a LSWP; that final rule is entitled Final Rule: Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 
and the FR became effective on August 29, 2016.
The LSWP requirements are codified in Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR) Section 210.31 and apply to LEAs that participate in the NSLP or SBP. It mandates that all LEAs meet expanded LSWP requirements set forth in Section 204 of the HHFKA. The LSWP provision establishes the framework for the content of the LSWP, ensures stakeholder participation in the development of such policies, and requires triennial assessment of compliance and reporting on the progress toward achieving the LEAs LSWP goals. As of June 30, 2017, the LSWP must include at a minimum:
- Measurable goals for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that promote student wellness;
- Nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages sold or made available on school campus during the school day;
- Policies for food and beverage marketing;
- Requirements that stakeholders be provided with opportunities to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the wellness policy;
- A plan for measuring effectiveness that is measured triennially and made available to the public;
- Annual notification informing and updating the public (parents, students, and others in the community) about the content and implementation of the LSWP; and
- Designation of one or more LEA officials or school officials by position or title, to ensure that each school complies with the LSWP.
Trainings
Online Trainings
| Course Number | Course Name | Training Topic | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
California Department of Education (Course #310) |
Wellness Policy |
Food Service Director and Staff |
|
| California Department of Education (Course #886)
|
Wellness Policy |
Food Service Director and Staff |
|
| California Local School Wellness Policy Collaborative (External Source) |
Triennial Assessment Webinar for Local Educational Agencies
(Video; 54:53) |
Wellness Policy | Local School Wellness Policy Committee |
Institute of Child Nutrition
(External Source) |
Wellness Policy |
Food Service Director and Staff |
|
National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research
(External Source) |
Wellness Policy |
Food Service Director and Staff |
Resources
Tool Kits
Examples of Policy Language
Wellness Policy Assessment Tools
General Resources
Tool Kits
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) Team Nutrition LSWP Outreach Tool Kit
|
Ready to go resources that school districts and school sites can customize to communicate information about their LSWP to parents and staff. |
| California LSWP Collaborative LSWP Committee Guide
(PDF) |
A comprehensive guide with resources for facilitating a wellness committee including sample agendas for meetings and other selected resources to support LSWP assessment, action planning, updating, and evaluation. |
California Food Policy Advocates |
A tool kit with resources and general guidance on how to incorporate nutrition actions into LCAP. |
| A searchable database of resources based on a broader definition of wellness that includes health equity and a focus on addressing health disparities. | |
| School-based Health Alliance |
An online tool kit which is based on four years of experience with the Hallways to Health model for the school health field to adopt population-level, schoolwide health and wellness initiatives. |
| Healthy Schools Campaign and Alliance for a Healthier Generation Using Needs Assessments to Connect Learning and Health: Opportunities in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) guide
(PDF) |
Highlights numerous ways that schools can conduct needs assessments. Provides resources to identify, understand, and address health conditions that contribute to poor academic performance and chronic absenteeism. |
Examples of Policy Language
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
California Department of Education (CDE), Nutrition Services Division (NSD) Civil Rights and Nondiscrimination web page |
Required federal nondiscrimination language to be included on wellness policies and other wellness policy materials. |
| The Alliance for a Healthier Generation
How to Use the Wellness Policy Builder
|
This digital tool supports school districts across the nation in developing Local School Wellness Policies. It includes language options that fulfill basic federal LSWP requirements as well as those that are stronger. The Wellness Policy Builder also offers customizable features to state and local wellness policy requirements. Review and update your Wellness Policy to include any stricter state requirements. |
California School Board Association Local School Wellness Policy |
A sample wellness policy that addresses the minimum requirements. |
San Diego County Obesity Prevention Initiative |
Includes wellness policies from 40 San Diego County school districts, a model wellness policy, and examples of policy language related to 20 school wellness topics. |
| San Diego County Obesity Prevention Initiative School and After School Resources |
Selected resource sheets and model policy language for 11 school wellness topics, including social, emotional and mental health, lactation accommodation, and preschools. |
San Diego County Obesity Prevention Initiative Wellness Policy Component: |
A chart with multiple examples of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) language that have been included in a San Diego school district LSWPs. |
| Smarter Lunchrooms Movement of California Smarter Lunchrooms and the LSWP (PDF) |
Sample language for including the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement practices into LSWP. |
| Public Health Law Institutes Sample School Wellness Policy: Farm to School
(PDF) |
Sample language for including Farm to School practices into LSWP. |
| Change Lab Solutions Food and Beverage Marketing: Model Wellness Policy Language
(PDF) |
Sample language for including food and beverage marketing policy language into LSWP |
Change Lab Solutions |
Sample language for including anti-bullying practices into LSWP. |
Wellness Policy Assessment Tools
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
California LSWP Collaborative |
A template for LEAs to complete the LSWP Triennial Assessment. The template includes four components: comparison to a model LSWP, progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy, extent of compliance for all schools with the District LSWP, and Triennial Assessment report to the public. |
| California Department of Education, Nutrition Services Division Does your Local School Wellness Policy Measure Up? checklist (PDF) |
A checklist to assess compliance with the LSWP requirements and to prepare for the administrative review (AR). |
California LSWP Collaborative Implementation Plan Template
(DOCX) |
A template based on California Project LEAN’s model for completing the implementation plan. It can be used to fulfill the requirements of the triennial assessment, assess compliance with the LSWP, and progress in attaining the LSWP goals. |
| California LSWP Collaborative Triennial Assessment Guidance (DOCX) |
A tool to guide LEAs in conducting the required triennial assessment to assess: (1) comparison to a model policy, (2) compliance with the LSWP, and (3) progress in attaining the LSWP goals. |
| Torrance Unified School District Creating a Culture of Wellness (PDF) |
An example of how to meet the requirements for an annual update of the wellness policy. |
| The Rudd Center WellSAT: Wellness School Assessment Tool |
A free, online self-assessment tool that calculates a score that evaluates the comprehensiveness and strength of LSWPs. Comparing a district’s LSWP to a model policy is one component of the triennial assessment requirement. |
| Arizona Department of Education Annual Wellness Policy Report (DOCX) |
A fillable template that can be completed to meet the requirements for an annual update of the wellness policy. |
| University of California Davis Center for Nutrition in Schools School and Community Actions for Nutrition Survey (PDF) |
A rubric with a scoring system to assess LSWP. The rubric can be used to fulfill the requirements of the triennial assessment to assess compliance with the LSWP, and progress in attaining the LSWP goals. |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
School Health Index web page
|
A tool to conduct a baseline and ongoing assessment of the LSWP implementation. It can be used to fulfill the requirements of the triennial assessment to assess compliance with the LSWP, and progress in attaining the LSWP goals. |
General Resources
| Resource | Description |
|---|---|
The USDA FNA |
Detailed information about the requirements and also provides a wealth of resources, including reference materials and sample policies. |
The CDE Content Standards web page |
A list of all of the California education content standards and frameworks. |
The CDE Nutrition Education in California Schools web page |
Benefits of nutrition education, best practices, funding options, state and federal policy, resources, trainings, and contact information for Health and Nutrition Educators in California schools. |
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation |
A variety of videos, materials, websites, and curricula designed to help make healthy changes in schools or in an out-of-school time environment. |
The California State Parent–Teacher Association (PTA) |
Resources for parents and wellness councils on LSWPs. |
A searchable database on LSWP resources. |
Policy
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) has issued policy memoranda detailing the federal guidance related to LSWPs. When merited, the California Department of Education (CDE) releases management bulletins to include state-specific requirements that impact LSWPs.
| Release Date | Issued by | Subject | Reference Number |
|---|---|---|---|
July 2026 |
CDE |
The Local School Wellness Policy Requirements Management Bulletin details federal requirements for local school wellness policies and recent state laws impacting food and beverages available on school campuses. | SNP-03-2026 |
April 2017 |
The USDA FNA |
The Local School Wellness Policy: Guidance and Questions and Answers provides additional guidance to the Local Educational Agency on how to implement the 2016 Final Rule for LSWP, including information about the food and beverage marketing policy requirement. |
SP 24-2017 |
Contacts
If you have any questions, please contact the California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division by phone at 800-952-5609 or by email at LSWP@cde.ca.gov.