The Healthy Schools Act passed unanimously by the D.C. Council in 2010, is designed to improve the health, wellness, and nutrition of District children by helping schools, students and families eat healthy, stay active, learn healthy habits, care for the environment, and create healthy school communities.
The Act features several key anti-hunger provisions including:
- Free breakfast for all students.
- Breakfast in the classroom and other innovative service models.
- Elimination of the reduced-price co-payment for school meals.
The Act also provides opportunities to improve District children’s health through a variety of measures, including: enhanced nutrition in school meals; increased physical activity and education; stronger school wellness policy implementation and accountability; and promotion of school health centers.
What’s happening in D.C.
This video, produced by American University and Kaiser Permanente, shows how the Act is transforming the school environment:
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5_zcaW2hAc[/embedyt]
Resources:
- Healthy School Act website
- D.C. Healthy Schools Act brochure
- Download information on national efforts to connect children to school meals and other child nutrition programs at the Food Research & Action Center’s website.