Wellness Policy
Harrisburg City School District established a district wellness policy in 2006 - Policy 246. The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 - 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006."
The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus. The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.
Harrisburg City School District provides a federally funded free breakfast program for its pupils. In 2006, it was lauded by the Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center for the high participation rate of the children in the program 61% in 2006. In 2007, the free school breakfast participation rate in the city schools was 56.9% or 7,519 pupils. In 2008 the participation rate rose again to 64%. The district also provides a federal free lucnh and a summer program of providing lunch in selected buildings.
Read more about this topic: Harrisburg School District (Pennsylvania)
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