Federal directive requires school wellness policy

In 2004, Congress required all school districts that participate in federally funded meal programs to develop wellness policies addressing nutrition and physical activity. According to the law, policies needed to be in place at the start of the 2006 academic year.

The policies were to be created in each district by a committee responsible for overseeing implementation. In districts across Long Island those bodies are made up of parents, teachers, students, coaches and school nurses.

Because there are no mechanisms for compliance oversight, wellness plans vary from district to district. Some districts have very detailed plans, while others do not.

"Congress specifically made the decision that these policies were to be locally designed and developed," said Kate Houston, the Department of Agriculture's deputy undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services.

The USDA is working with the Department of Education and the Centers for Disease Control to provide schools with technical assistance in formulating policies, she said.