Schools play an essential role in creating a healthy environment for students to grow and learn every day. Schools not only provide nutritious meals and time for physical activity, but they also educate Idaho's children about the importance of nutrition and physical fitness. There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that good nutrition and physical activity contribute to improved academic performance, attendance rates, behavior and lifelong health, and well-being.
Wellness Policy Requirements
Federal legislation requires school districts to implement a local wellness policy that must include language:
- Permitting parents, students, school board, PE teachers, school health professionals, school food service staff, administrators, and community members to participate in the development, implementation, review, and update of the local wellness policy.
- Identifying wellness policy leadership of one or more LEA and/or school official(s) who have the authority and responsibility to ensure each school complies with the wellness policy.
- Specifying measurable goals for nutrition education, nutrition promotion, physical activity, and other school-based activities to promote student wellness that are written with consideration for evidence-based strategies.
- Addressing nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages sold on the school campus during the school day and for providing school meals that adhere to Federal meal pattern requirements.
- Identifying nutrition standards for non-sold foods and beverages available during classroom and school celebrations.
- Stating a policy for food and beverage marketing that allows the marketing and advertising of only those foods and beverages that meet Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
- Addressing an evaluation conducted once every three years of the wellness policy and the extent to which schools are in compliance, how the district policy compares to model wellness policies, and the progress made in attaining local wellness policy goals.
- Identifying a way to share the wellness policy content and implementation with the public.
Final Rule
There is a Summary of the Final Rule for Local School Wellness Policies posted on the FNS Website. This resource provides a brief description of the background of the rule, summary of the updates to the wellness policy requirements, and a list of resources.
HIGHLIGHTS

Resource Files
Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation
- Developing Wellness Policy Implementation Plan
- Implementation and Monitoring Plan
- Monitoring and Evaluating Wellness Policies
National and State Policy Examples
- Sample Idaho Wellness Policy Final Rule
- Sample RCCI Wellness Policy
- UCONN Rudd Center District School Wellness Policy
Tools for Success
- Making it Work! Getting Non-food Service School-Based Groups on Board
- Wellness Policy Requirements Elements of Implementation
Triennial Assessment
Frequently Asked Questions
Resource Links
State Department of Education Links
Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation
State and National Data Supporting Local Wellness Policies
- Linking Health and Academics
- Local Wellness Policy Resources
- School Health Policies and Practices Study
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
Teaching Nutrition in the Classroom Curriculum
These curriculum resources are free to schools who participate in the National School Lunch Program or other USDA child nutrition programs.
- Dig In! Standards-Based Nutrition Education from the Ground Up — Grades 5-6
- Discover My Plate — Kindergarten
- Nutrition Voyage: The Quest to be our Best — Grades 7-8
- Resources for Educators
- Serving Up My Plate — Grades 1-6
- The Great Garden Detective Adventure — Grades 3-4