TY - JOUR
T1 - Strength and Comprehensiveness of District School Wellness Policies Predict Policy Implementation at the School Level
AU - Schwartz, Marlene B.
AU - Henderson, Kathryn E.
AU - Falbe, Jennifer
AU - Novak, Sarah A.
AU - Wharton, Christopher
AU - Long, Michael W.
AU - O'Connell, Meghan L.
AU - Fiore, Susan S.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2012 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2012/6
Y1 - 2012/6
N2 - BACKGROUND: In 2006, all local education agencies in the United States participating in federal school meal programs were required to establish school wellness policies. This study documented the strength and comprehensiveness of 1 state's written district policies using a coding tool, and tested whether these traits predicted school-level implementation and practices. METHODS: School wellness policies from 151 Connecticut districts were evaluated. School principal surveys were collected before and after the writing and expected implementation of wellness policies. Sociodemographic variables were assessed for each district, including enrollment, population density, political climate, racial composition, and socioeconomic status. Changes in school-level policy implementation before and after the federal wellness policy mandate were compared across districts by wellness policy strength; policies were compared based on district-level demographics. RESULTS: Statewide, more complete implementation of nutrition and physical activity policies at the school level was reported after adoption of written policies. Districts with stronger, more comprehensive policies were more successful in implementing them at the school level. Some sociodemographic characteristics predicted the strength of wellness policies. CONCLUSIONS: Written school wellness policies have the potential to promote significant improvements in the school environment. Future regulation of school wellness policies should focus on the importance of writing strong and comprehensive policies.
AB - BACKGROUND: In 2006, all local education agencies in the United States participating in federal school meal programs were required to establish school wellness policies. This study documented the strength and comprehensiveness of 1 state's written district policies using a coding tool, and tested whether these traits predicted school-level implementation and practices. METHODS: School wellness policies from 151 Connecticut districts were evaluated. School principal surveys were collected before and after the writing and expected implementation of wellness policies. Sociodemographic variables were assessed for each district, including enrollment, population density, political climate, racial composition, and socioeconomic status. Changes in school-level policy implementation before and after the federal wellness policy mandate were compared across districts by wellness policy strength; policies were compared based on district-level demographics. RESULTS: Statewide, more complete implementation of nutrition and physical activity policies at the school level was reported after adoption of written policies. Districts with stronger, more comprehensive policies were more successful in implementing them at the school level. Some sociodemographic characteristics predicted the strength of wellness policies. CONCLUSIONS: Written school wellness policies have the potential to promote significant improvements in the school environment. Future regulation of school wellness policies should focus on the importance of writing strong and comprehensive policies.
KW - Nutrition and diet
KW - Policy
KW - Public health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84860659788&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84860659788&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2012.00696.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1746-1561.2012.00696.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 22568461
AN - SCOPUS:84860659788
SN - 0022-4391
VL - 82
SP - 262
EP - 267
JO - Journal of School Health
JF - Journal of School Health
IS - 6
ER -