Local School Wellness Policy for Students

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THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER RECOMMENDS:

That the Chicago Board of Education (“Board”) rescind Board Report 22-0622-PO4 and adopt a new Local School Wellness Policy for Students. The policy was posted for public comment from March 17, 2023 to April 17, 2023.

PURPOSE:

The Board recognizes the relationship that exists between academic achievement and student health and wellness. Accordingly, this policy reflects the Board’s commitment to removing health-related barriers to learning via health policy, promotion, education and services, and implementation of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework. The purpose of this policy is to ensure the Board’s expectations for a healthy school environment are articulated and satisfied by establishing requirements for nutrition education, physical activity and the provision of healthy food choices at schools and for all students in grades PK-12. This policy also establishes, through the CPS Guidelines for Competitive Foods, nutrition standards, requirements and recommendations for foods and beverages sold, provided or served to students at school that compete with food provided under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This policy seeks to create a school environment that supports student nutrition and healthy food choices by providing nutrition standards for food and beverages sold 1) as competitive foods in vending machines or in school stores, 2) by food vendors on school grounds, 3) as a la carte items sold in the school dining centers, and 4) as part of school fundraisers, celebrations or rewards. The nutrition standards set forth in Guidelines and affirmed in this policy are consistent with the USDA’s Smart Snacks Guidelines and best practices for competitive foods.

EQUITY STATEMENT:

The Board is committed to supporting the Whole Child through policies and programs that holistically address the physical, mental, and social-emotional health and wellbeing of every student. This policy seeks to advance health equity by addressing the root causes such as food insecurity and inequitable access to safe spaces for outdoor play, and by ensuring that schools provide consistent access to nutritious food and opportunities for physical activity and nutrition education. Further, as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) and LGBTQ+ students are more likely to experience health disparities including bullying, substance use, and mental health issues than non-LGBTQ+ and non-BIPOC students, this policy provides guidance for ensuring healthy and supportive environments in all schools. The Office of Student Health and Wellness (“OSHW”) is engaging in ongoing work to align to WSCC and operationalize the CPS Equity Framework through this policy within the locus of its control.

POLICY TEXT:

I. Definitions

A La Carte: Individually priced food items, provided by Nutrition Support Services, which are available for sale in the school dining center that are not part of the reimbursable meal served through NSLP, SBP, SSO, SFSP or CACFP.

Celebrations: Special events or activities occurring in a classroom or elsewhere at school during the school day.

Competitive Foods: Foods and/or beverages sold to students on school grounds that compete with the school’s operation of the NSLP, SBP, SSO, SFSP or CACFP. Competitive foods include, but are not limited to, items sold in vending machines or school stores, by food vendors on school grounds, or in school dining centers as a la carte items. Competitive foods must follow CPS Guidelines for Competitive Foods.

Fundraiser: Any activity, event or sale to raise funds by or for a school or school club or program occurring on school grounds whether before, during or after school hours.

Nutrition Education: Nutrition education, as part of comprehensive health education, is a planned, sequential, PK-12 curriculum or supplemental education program that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, and social dimensions of health related to nutrition. The program is designed to motivate and assist students to maintain and improve their health, prevent disease, and reduce health-related risk behaviors. It allows students to develop and demonstrate increasingly sophisticated nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, skills and practices.

Outside Foods: Any food items served, sold, or otherwise brought into schools that are not a part of the school meal programs (NSLP, SBP, SSO, SFSP or CACFP), a la carte, or vending machines, e.g. food brought in from restaurants, grocery stores, etc.

Physical Activity: Physical activity is any bodily movement that results in energy expenditure. Two levels of physical activity are commonly recommended, "Moderate" and "Vigorous."

Moderate: Movement activities in which participants breathe heavily and are able to talk in complete sentences, but not sing.

Vigorous: Movement activities in which participants perspire, breathe hard and are not able to say more than a few words without pausing for a breath.

Physical Education (“PE”): Physical education is an academic subject that provides a planned, sequential, K-12 standards-based program of curricula and instruction designed to develop motor skills, knowledge and behaviors for healthy, active living, physical fitness, sportsmanship, self-efficacy and emotional intelligence.

Rewards: Incentives offered to students in recognition of good behavior or performance whether offered before, during or after school.

School Day: For purposes of this policy, the school day is defined as the period from the midnight before to 30 minutes after dismissal.

Whole Child Approach: The holistic approach that prioritizes physical, mental, and social-emotional health to ensure that every student in every school is healthy, safe, supported, challenged, and engaged.

Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Framework: A model for supporting the Whole Child, established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD), that identifies the following 10 key components for addressing health in schools: Health Education, Physical Education & Physical Activity, Nutrition Environment & Services, Health Services, Counseling, Psychological & Social Services, Social & Emotional Climate, Physical Environment, Employee Wellness, Parent Engagement, and Community Involvement.

II. Scope

The Chief Health Officer and Executive Director of Nutrition Support Services (“NSS”), or their designees, must collaborate to ensure all schools serving grades PK-12 comply with the following criteria regarding nutrition education, access to nutritious food and beverages served, sold or provided in schools, celebrations, fundraisers, and/or rewards, and physical activity. The requirements outlined in this policy only apply to activities that take place during the school day as defined above. However, schools are encouraged to promote healthy eating and physical activity and must provide accommodations for students with allergies or other dietary restrictions whenever food is served on school grounds or at school-sponsored events. Section IV of this policy applies to charter schools that opt-in to CPS meal programs.

III. A Whole Child Approach to School Wellness:

In alignment to the WSCC Framework, CPS acknowledges that supporting the health and wellness of students and staff requires the efforts of numerous CPS departments and stakeholders. While this policy does not address all 10 WSCC components, OSHW is committed to collaborating with Central Office departments and other stakeholders to ensure the coordination of policies, programs, and practices necessary for holistic WSCC implementation.

IV. Nutrition Environment and Services

A. Meal Service

The food and beverages served on school campuses during the school day by CPS personnel as part of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) must meet or exceed all applicable federal state and local laws and regulations as well as applicable Board policies and guidelines including, but not limited to:

Applicable USDA regulations regarding all aspects of NSLP and SBP, and all other federally funded CPS child nutrition programs;
Applicable Illinois law that regulates the service or sale of foods and beverages on school grounds;
Applicable laws and regulations governing food safety and security for all foods made available on school grounds;
CPS nutrition guidelines applicable to reimbursable school meals which shall not be less restrictive than federal regulations and guidance issued by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture pursuant to the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act;
Federal and state regulations to provide accommodations for dietary, cultural and religious preferences and needs of students; and
Board policies governing food allergy management; diabetes management; administration of medication; sale of competitive foods/beverages and all other Board policies governing student health and nutrition.

The District must offer students a variety of age-appropriate, nutritious and appealing food and beverage choices in the dining center. The District must employ food preparation and meal planning practices consistent with federal guidelines, best practices and the CPS nutrition guidelines for school meals including:

All students must have access to plain drinking water at no cost as part of the school meal program. Additionally, plain drinking water must be available to students at no cost throughout the school day.
Local food items must be available at a minimum per the following schedule: frozen-local once per week, fresh-local twice per month, and local no antibiotic ever chicken twice per month; or more often as items become available and are fiscally feasible. Local is defined as within 350 miles from Chicago and/or the State of Illinois.
Chicken served on the menu must adhere to the USDA No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) or Certified Responsible Antibiotic Use (CRAU) standard. As other proteins that adhere to NAE or CRAU standards become available and are fiscally feasible the district must consider procurement.
Local food items must be available at a minimum per the following schedule: frozen-local once per week, fresh-local twice per month, and local no antibiotic ever chicken twice per month; or more often as items become available and are fiscally feasible.
All CPS menu items are pork-free and a vegetarian and/or plant-based option will be made available daily.
Schools should take steps towards reducing food waste by implementing Share Tables, as outlined by NSS.

Plain water must be available to students throughout the school day.
Plain, unflavored milk must be provided to students in the fat content appropriate for age, unless medically prescribed otherwise.
Teachers and staff are prohibited from serving juice, including 100% Juice and diluted juice, for mealtimes, snacks, and celebrations.
Food must be served in age appropriate portions and forms that reduce opportunities for choking. Food characteristics that may cause choking include, but are not limited to, cylindrical, airway sized, and compressible forms which may wedge into and block the airway. Staff should follow the recommendations outlined by the USDA or American Academy of Pediatrics.

Times: Principals must ensure students receive at least 10 minutes to eat breakfast and at least 20 minutes to eat lunch, starting from the time they have received their meal and are seated. Lunch periods are scheduled between 10am and 2pm. Lunch scheduled outside of these hours must be approved by NSS Executive Director or designee to avoid scheduling conflicts with NSS staff. Students are scheduled in accordance with annual scheduling guidance issued by the Office of Teaching and Learning.

Schools must communicate to parents/guardians that one reimbursable breakfast and one reimbursable lunch is available to all enrolled students on a daily basis at no charge to the student. Schools should encourage parents/guardians to support the goals and objectives of this policy through participation in the school meal programs. Parents/guardians who elect to provide their child with meals outside of the NSLP and SBP are encouraged to send healthy foods in age-appropriate sizes and portions for their child and to refrain from providing foods or snacks that do not align with the guidance in this policy and CPS Guidelines for Competitive Foods.

Students are not permitted to share food directly with other students, including food brought from home and food provided through the NSLP and SBP. Certain uneaten food items may be redistributed via Share Tables in accordance with USDA policy (FNS Instruction 786-6), unless otherwise restricted by guidelines set forth by the Chief Health Officer or Executive Director of NSS (e.g. Allergy Management Guidelines or public health guidelines related to infectious disease outbreaks such as COVID-19).

The Board of Education embraces the GFPP as a strategy to help improve our region’s food system through the adoption and implementation of the Good Food Purchasing Standards, which emphasize the following values:

Local & Community-Based Economies: support small and mid-sized agricultural and food processing operations within the local area or region.
Environmental Sustainability: support producers that employ sustainable production systems that reduce or eliminate synthetic pesticides and fertilizers; avoid the use of hormones, antibiotics, and genetic engineering; conserve soil and water; protect and enhance wildlife habitat and biodiversity; and reduce on-farm energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Valued Workforce: provide safe and healthy working conditions and fair compensation for all food chain workers and producers from production to consumption.
Animal Welfare: provide health and humane care for farm animals.
Community Health & Nutrition: promote health and well-being by offering generous portions of vegetable, fruit and whole grains; reducing salt, added sugars, fats and oils; and by eliminating ingredients of concern as defined by NSS.

NSS, district food service providers and school dining center staff shall be engaged in wellness activities that support taking nutrition lessons beyond the classrooms and into school dining centers to encourage and promote healthy eating habits. The District must:

Ensure that, through NSS, food service staff receive ongoing professional development opportunities that include training regarding nutrition, meal planning, and wellness in accordance with current contracts.
Encourage creativity in menu promotion and implementation of strategies that provide tasty, appealing and healthy school meals.
Collaborate with Principals to ensure meals are served in clean, safe and pleasant settings with adequate time provided for students to eat, at a minimum, in accordance with state and federal standards and guidelines.Reinforce healthy food messages in the dining center through printed materials like posters and nutrition pamphlets and/or presentations like taste-tests or cooking demonstrations.

B. Competitive Foods

Foods and/or beverages sold, provided or served to students on school grounds that compete with the school’s operation of the NSLP, SBP, SSO, SFSP or CACFP must comply with all applicable federal and state regulations.
In the event the USDA or state of Illinois issue modified, more stringent, or additional nutritional standards for food or beverages sold, served or provided in schools, the Chief Health Officer, Executive Director of NSS, or a designee is authorized to update/enforce the nutritional criteria and related requirements specified in this policy.
In the event less stringent standards are issued it shall be at the discretion of the Chief Health Officer, Executive Director of NSS, or designee to update guidelines.

Schools must minimize the use of outside foods as outlined in sections IV.B.6 (Fundraisers), D (Rewards) and E (Celebrations) of this policy.
To ensure food safety guidelines and student allergy management is maintained, no home-baked or home-cooked items may be served or sold to students as part of any school function.
All foods provided as a function of school activities must be commercially purchased and include a nutrition facts label in which allergens can be clearly identified, or be provided through NSS.

Vending machines on CPS property are permitted to operate by approved vendors only. All food and beverage items for sale to students are subject to the nutrition criteria outlined in this CPS Guidelines for Competitive Foods and the following additional requirements. Only vending machines provided through the District contract, as overseen by NSS, are permitted.

Beverage Vending Requirements: Elementary, middle and high schools are permitted to operate beverage vending in compliance with the nutrition and other regulations outlined in the CPS Guidelines for Competitive Foods. Beverage vending machines may, at the Principal’s discretion, be placed in any appropriate location within the building.
Snack Vending Machine Placement
1. Elementary or Middle Schools: Snack vending machines may not be placed anywhere in the school building, including the lunchroom, where they would be accessible for student use during school hours. Such machines are, however, permitted in areas restricted from students such as the teachers' lounge. If a snack machine is located in a school's common area and cannot be relocated to a restricted area, the machine must be rendered inoperable for the duration of the school day.
2. High Schools: Snack vending machines may, at the Principal's discretion, be placed in any appropriate location within the school that is accessible for student use. Vending machines may be placed in the dining center provided they are not located near the entrance, serving line, or point of sale; placement is subject to NSS approval. All items in vending machines accessible for student use must comply with CPS nutrition guidelines outlined in the CPS Guidelines for Competitive Foods. Non-compliant vending machines are permitted in areas restricted from students such as the teachers' lounge.
Compliance: Schools must forfeit revenue from the sale of non-approved items in vending machines.
Staff Restricted Vending. Schools are encouraged to promote staff wellness by offering healthy snack and beverage options in vending machines that are accessible only to school staff/adults.

Principals, school staff, parents/guardians and students are strongly encouraged to promote non-food fundraisers. Food fundraisers are not permitted during the school day. School fundraising activities that begin 30 minutes after the scheduled end of the school day are not bound by these policies (i.e. sporting events, family nights, student clubs, etc.). Food fundraisers are permitted during the school day if the items sold are intended to be consumed outside of school hours and away from school grounds (e.g. cookie dough).
Any food items sold in school stores must meet the nutrition standards outlined in the CPS Guidelines for Competitive Foods. School stores may not sell food during regularly scheduled meal times.
To ensure food safety guidelines and student allergy management is maintained, no home-baked or home-cooked items may be served or sold to students as part of any school fundraiser or function.
All CPS fundraisers must be approved by the Network Chief or equivalent (for schools that do not report to a Network Chief).
Schools must forfeit revenue from the sale of non-approved food or beverages.

The nutrition criteria outlined in the CPS Guidelines for Competitive Foods are recommended, but not required for food or beverages sold, served or provided: (a) during a school-sponsored activity or field trip off school grounds, (b) at concession stands at a sports stadium, gym, field house or auditorium, whether on or off school grounds, (c) as part of a school sports game, performance or event where parents/guardians and other adults are a significant part of an audience, (d) at school fundraising events held off of school grounds, and (e) outside of school hours, i.e. between 30 minutes after the final bell and midnight or on non-attendance days including weekends, school breaks (e.g. Winter/Spring Break), and holidays.
Students with Health Conditions: Nothing in this policy prohibits a student with a documented health condition from consuming foods or beverages provided from home. Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with health conditions where physician’s orders specify the intake of certain snack foods or beverages at school to manage their medical condition.

Principals, school staff, partners and program providers must promote a healthy eating environment in the school. Adults are encouraged to model healthy eating and serve nutritious food and beverages which meet the requirements in this policy at school meetings and staff-oriented events. Staff are encouraged to model healthy eating when in the presence of students as a way of healthy role-modeling.

C. Marketing:

Schools must restrict food and beverage marketing during the academic school day to only those foods and beverages that meet the nutrition standards outlined in the CPS Guidelines for Competitive Foods.

D. Food and Physical Activity as Rewards or Discipline:

Rewards are incentives offered to students in recognition of good behavior or performance. (See Definitions section for more information). Teachers and other school personnel are encouraged to promote non-food rewards. Individual student rewards using food are not permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, teachers, staff, or partners giving out candy or snacks during class, school assemblies, or other gatherings.
Principals, teachers, and other school staff are prohibited from withholding food or offering alternative lunch options (such as a brown bag lunch, lunch in the classroom) as discipline. Food may not be withheld from any student for any reason. In the case of student detention, in-school suspension or other restrictive activities, students must be allowed to go through the dining center service line and select a meal.
Teachers and other school personnel are prohibited from using physical activity (e.g., running laps, pushups) as discipline or withholding opportunities for physical activity (e.g., withholding recess or physical education) as punishment.
Teachers and other school personnel are encouraged to use physical activity opportunities as rewards such as extra recess, special classroom privileges, etc., provided they don’t interfere with required daily instructional minutes.

E. Celebrations:

Schools are encouraged to celebrate with fun rather than food. Principals, school staff, parents/guardians, students and Out of School Time program partners should promote healthy classroom and school celebrations by minimizing the use of candy and snacks.

A school may permit a maximum of two school wide celebrations per school year with outside food as defined in section I of this policy. For the purposes of this policy, “school wide” means occurring on the same day, purposely planned to ensure that students are only celebrating with food one time in that day, but does not necessarily require celebrations to take place in the same space (e.g. celebrations that occur in individual classrooms at one given time). Any other events where food is served, including those that celebrate student attendance or other achievements must follow the nutrition criteria outlined in the CPS Guidelines for Competitive Foods. Schools must not serve any outside food during regularly scheduled school meals (e.g. ordering food from a restaurant or bringing a food truck to school during the lunch period).
Schools must notify parents/guardians of any celebrations that will involve food and must make accommodations for students with allergies or other food-related concerns. Celebrations must not replace the regularly scheduled school meals or prevent dining staff from preparing meals except in the case of student field trips. Schools must conform with: (i) applicable federal regulations, (ii) the Board’s Chronic Conditions Management Policy; (iii) the guidelines to this Policy.

F. Student Access to Nutritious Foods:

In order to increase student access to nutritious foods the OSHW and NSS will work with community organizations and partners to identify additional opportunities to increase food access, such as school-based farmers markets and food pantries. Additionally, schools must:

Promote the school meal program, ensuring families know that all students can have breakfast and lunch at no cost, every day.
Refer all eligible students to CPS' Children and Family Benefits Unit to enroll them in any appropriate state and federal benefits programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and All Kids (Medicaid).
Promote student participation in the federally-funded summer food service programs and coordinate activities with city agencies to maximize student summer services and student participation in federally-funded summer food service programs.
Promote student participation in after school and summer programs that serve students healthy snacks and/or meals which meet federal and state regulations. Schools that provide after school or summer programming should connect with NSS and establish meal and/or snack services.
Conduct periodic reviews to ensure that items served and sold on school grounds are in compliance with this policy.

V. Physical Activity and Physical Education

Daily Opportunities for Physical Activity
Physical Activity can improve students’ ability to focus, learn, and achieve academically. All schools must discourage extended periods (two hours or more) of time when a student is not physically active. When activities, such as school testing, make it necessary for students to remain indoors for long periods of time, schools should provide periodic breaks during which students are encouraged to be moderately to vigorously active.
Schools must provide all students, PK-12 with daily opportunities for physical activity before, during and after school.
1. Grade Level Requirements:
  - Pre-K programs must provide a mix of structured physical activity and unstructured free play, including at least 30 minutes per day for half day programs and 60 minutes per day for full day programs.
  - K-8 Schools must provide daily opportunities for moderate to vigorous physical activity for all students in addition to recess and physical education.
    1. Grades K-5. District schools must provide all students in grades K-5 30 minutes of supervised, unstructured physical activity daily.
      1. All unstructured physical activity must comply with a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan.
      2. All unstructured physical activity must not include student use of any electronic devices (computers, tablets, phones, or videos that encourage sedentary behavior).
      3. Physical Education must not be counted towards this requirement for unstructured physical activity.
      4. This 30 minutes is inclusive of the required 20 minute daily recess (section V.B.).
    2. Grades 6-8. Schools must provide daily opportunities for moderate to vigorous physical activity in addition to recess and physical education.
  - Grades 9-12. High Schools are encouraged to maximize existing daily opportunities for physical activity (in addition to physical education) before, during, and after school.
2. Implementation Goals:
  Curriculum Integration: All core subjects including math, science, language arts, health, family and consumer science, and social sciences should maximize student attention and focus by integrating movement daily.
3. Out of School Physical Activity: Schools shall encourage students to engage in continuous physical activities (moderate to vigorous) outside of school hours for a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes on five or more days per week through participation in community programs, after school programs and/or before school programs.
4. School Community Shared-Use: In an effort to increase equitable community access to physical activity, schools are encouraged to consider opportunities to open indoor and outdoor facilities during non-school hours for free use by students, staff, families, and/or the larger community, provided the following requirements are observed:
  - Such events (e.g. dance or other fitness classes, basketball nights, etc.) are hosted and supervised by the school;
  - Applicable facilities include gymnasiums, playgrounds, schoolyards, sports fields, courts, and tracks, but does not include swimming pools.
  - Board Rule 6-25 and Board policies and procedures regarding safety and security, including but not limited to staffing and background checks, are followed;
  - Third party organizations, whether non- or for-profit organizations, are not covered under this provision, and must enter into a License Agreement or School Usage Permit per Board Rule 6-25. Contact the Real Estate Department for more information; and .
  - The Principal must consult with the Office of Safety & Security and the Department of Facilities to ensure that there is sufficient staffing coverage and safety measures in place to protect the health, safety, and cleanliness of the school and its students and staff. The school is responsible for funding any associated costs of staffing due to extension of any after hours or incremental activities.
Recess: Recess provides students with a break from instruction and time to engage in play with peers. All elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools with elementary grades, must provide elementary students (K-8) with a daily opportunity for recess that:
1. Is a non-instructional activity and occurs during non-instructional time.
2. Is at least 20 minutes in length per day. Schools that serve grades K-5 may schedule a 30 minute recess in accordance with section V.A.1.b of this policy.
3. Includes physical activity and/or activities that promote social skill development.
4. Is scheduled prior to students’ lunch periods when possible.
5. Is implemented in accordance with guidelines set by the Office of Student Health and Wellness, including but not limited to weather guidelines for outdoor recess.
6. May not be withheld or revoked for any reason, including as a disciplinary measure.
Physical Education: The District recognizes that Physical Education is an important part of overall physical activity in schools. Schools must offer physical education programming in accordance with the Illinois School Code and the CPS Physical Education Policy, as overseen and administered by the Office of Teaching and Learning.

VI. Health Education:

Comprehensive Health Education promotes individual and community health through a planned progression of developmentally appropriate learning experiences across multiple dimensions of wellness and health topics. Through a focus on teaching functional health information and the health skills outlined in the National Health Education Standards, comprehensive health education supports students in acquiring the knowledge, attitudes, and skills to adopt, practice, and maintain health-enhancing behaviors. Health education is a required component of elementary, middle, and high school coursework. In grades K-6, health education should be part of the formal regular instructional program at each grade level. In middle school, students should receive, at minimum, the equivalent of one semester of health education. In high school, students should receive, at minimum, one semester of health education.

Schools should utilize the CPS Health Education Curriculum, which covers the health skills outlined in the National Health Education Standards as well as priority content including but not limited to tobacco, alcohol, vaping, and other drug use, sexual health, violence prevention, personal health and safety, mental health, physical activity, and nutrition.
Nutrition Education: In order to establish a standardized approach to nutrition education, schools must provide nutrition education programming linking the classroom, dining center, and school garden (where applicable) under the following framework:
1. Grade Level Requirements:
  - All schools and campuses serving grades PK-8 are required to integrate evidence-based nutrition education into the curriculum in all grade levels included therein. Elementary schools that do not serve all grades PK-8 (e.g. PK only, K-3, K-4, K-5, etc.), Middle Schools serving grades 6-8 or 7-8, Academic Centers located in high schools serving grades 7-8, and High Schools serving grades 6,7, or 8 are subject to the requirements of this section.
  - High Schools serving grades 9-12 are required to integrate evidence-based nutrition education into the curriculum of at least two high school courses required for graduation.
2. Nutrition Education Implementation: Each school Principal must select curricula that:
  - aligns with the National Health Education Standards and the CPS Health Education Scope and Sequence, and
  - provides evidence-based nutrition instruction that is consistent with or exceeds the most current U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s “Dietary Guidelines for Americans” and the most current “My Plate” plan. OSHW, in collaboration with the department of NSS, will provide a list of resources to help schools meet this requirement.
  - Additionally, schools:
    1. may supplement this curriculum with resources provided by the USDA’s Team Nutrition or other approved sources vetted by OSHW’s Materials Review Committee (section VII.4). iv. should encourage maximization of classroom time by integrating nutrition education into lesson plans of other school subjects including math, science, language arts, physical education, health, and social sciences.
    2. must provide students with consistent nutrition education messages through multiple channels in addition to classroom instruction including nutrition information provided in the cafeteria, health fairs, field trips, after school programming, and assemblies
    3. are encouraged to utilize the school garden, if one exists, for nutrition education and ensure that students have opportunities to interact with the garden throughout the growing season.
    4. must comply with any additional nutrition education requirements specified in Healthy CPS.

VII. Social-Emotional Climate:

In order to ensure schools are addressing the social-emotional climate for all students, the following policies and guidelines must be followed:

Anti-Bullying: As stated in CPS’ Addressing Bullying and Bias-Based Behaviors Policy, schools must foster a respectful and open learning environment and take steps to support appropriate classroom behaviors and pre-empt behaviors that may disrupt sexual health education lessons. Schools must promote and affirm the diversity within the student population by ensuring an inclusive learning environment that supports students’ individual identities.
Non-Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct And Retaliation: As stated in CPS’ Comprehensive Non-Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct And Retaliation Policy: schools must provide a safe and secure working and learning environment free from Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct and/or Retaliation in any program or activity it conducts. Instructors must be mindful that racial discrimination and microaggressions are prohibited as outlined in this policy. Sexual harassment or misconduct will not be condoned and must be reported and handled immediately by appropriate parties, such as the Office of Student Protections and Title IX and the Equal Opportunity and Compliance Office.
Comprehensive Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Policy: To ensure the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ students, schools must adhere to the criteria outlined in the Comprehensive Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Policy.
Support for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Questioning Plus (LGBTQ+) students: All staff must complete annual Safe and Supportive Environments for Transgender, Nonbinary, Gender Nonconforming, and LGBTQ+ Students training provided by the Office of Student Health and Wellness. All staff must adhere to the protections stipulated in the CPS Guidelines Regarding the Support of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students and CPS Guidelines Regarding the Support of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Employees.
LGBTQ+ Supportive Student Clubs: As a research-driven approach to supporting all students, schools are encouraged to host an LGBTQ+ supportive club for example, a Genders and Sexualities Alliance (GSA) or similar youth-led club. If a student indicates they would like an LGBTQ+ supportive club, then a school must accommodate that request. Staff may also initiate the creation of an LGBTQ+ supportive club and may access the District’s GSA Advisor Training for guidance. If a school offers any club to students, then it must also permit a GSA or similar club.

VIII. Physical Environment:

Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Youth (PPY): The rights of pregnant and parenting students are federally protected under Title IX. Additionally, per state and law, public and charter schools must provide lactating students with reasonable accommodations including: access to a private and secure room, other than a restroom; permission to bring a breast pump onto campus and access to a power source; access to a place to store breastmilk, and a reasonable amount of time needed to breastfeed or pump breast milk. Schools must also provide pregnant and parenting students with the Healthy CPS Hotline to facilitate enrollment in Medicaid/Moms & Babies and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and share resources related to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and temporary coverage for outpatient healthcare for pregnant students.
School Gardens: School gardens provide opportunities for enriching experiential learning and can awaken students’ natural curiosity, enhance wellness, and foster environmental stewardship and leadership within school communities. Schools are encouraged to utilize their gardens for classroom instruction- for any subject- throughout the school year. While schools are not required to have a garden, any school that does must adhere to the following requirements:
1. The school garden must be supported by a school garden team which should include at least one teacher and an additional school support member whenever possible. Parents/caregivers, students, and community engagement is encouraged.
2. All schools with edible gardens must complete the Eat What You Grow Certification or Recertification training and PFSP (personalized food safety plan), annually as well as adhere to the guidelines, policies and procedures outlined within Eat What You Grow: A Food Safety Manual for Consuming Produce Grown at Schools.

IX. Employee Wellness

CPS encourages school staff to pursue a healthy lifestyle that contributes to their improved physical and health status, improved morale, and a greater personal commitment to the school’s overall comprehensive health program. In order to achieve this:

OSHW will work with the Office of Talent to establish health-promoting programs and initiatives focused on skill development and lifestyle changes including but not limited to nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and general wellbeing.
School administrators and Network staff are encouraged to develop wellness initiatives that support the unique needs of their staff within the school’s capacity, such as expanding access to exercise facilities (gym, weight room), or hosting staff-focused wellness events.

X. Family Engagement & Community Involvement:

Schools are encouraged to provide parents/guardians with information to help them incorporate healthy eating and physical activity into their child’s lives in and outside of school. This information may be provided in the form of handouts, postings on the school website, information provided in school newsletters, presentations that focus on nutrition and healthy lifestyles and any other appropriate means available for reaching parents. Schools should only share information that aligns with the District’s commitment to a whole child, healing-centered approach, as outlined by OSHW’s Guidelines for Nutrition Education.
Parents/Guardians and community members are encouraged to participate in their schools’ health and wellness activities by serving on their school’s Wellness Team. Schools are encouraged to host family and community events that focus on health and wellness topics including nutrition education and physical activity.

XI. Local School Implementation:

School Wellness Champion: The principal must annually designate, via a survey provided by OSHW, a school employee to serve as the School Wellness Champion who will (i) lead and coordinate their school’s efforts to create and sustain a culture of health and wellness, (ii) serve as the liaison to CPS Office of Student Health and Wellness regarding school level efforts to implement this policy and reporting as needed, and (iii) annually establish, serve on and lead a School Wellness Team that develops goals, strategies and initiatives for student health and wellness during the school year.
School Wellness Team: Each school is required to have a wellness team, a group of individuals who work to create a culture of health and wellness within the school. The principal must ensure that a School Wellness Team is formed annually to spearhead health and wellness initiatives at the school that are in compliance with the Office of Student Health and Wellness’ Healthy CPS Initiative, as well as coordinate compliance plans and efforts for ensuring adherence to policy requirements. The Wellness Team must be representative of the overall school community to the greatest extent possible, and should include parents/guardians, teachers of physical education, classroom teachers, school health professionals, students, school administrators and community health and wellness partners, and other relevant stakeholders. Schools that have gardens and Pre-K programs must include representatives of both on their Wellness Team, and student groups must be consulted on a regular basis. Wellness Teams must meet at least quarterly. The principal must establish a system to identify School Wellness Team members annually.
Reporting: The principal must provide quarterly updates to the Local School Council regarding the school’s health and wellness initiatives and the school’s implementation of this policy. In addition, schools must report progress to the Office of Student Health and Wellness when requested including through completion of an annual survey.

XII. Support and Oversight:

The Office of Student Health and Wellness will:

Provide technical assistance, support and professional development/training to assist schools with implementation of the policy and improve programming functions;
Ensure schools are offered support services through various departments including OSHW, NSS, and the Office of Teaching and Learning to ensure the full implementation of this policy;
Lead a Whole Child Advisory Council, with representatives from departments connected to the 10 WSCC components to continuously review CPS policies, protocols, resources, and services related to supporting the Whole Child.
Maintain a process for identifying and distributing resources made available by qualified agencies and community organizations for the purpose of collaborating with schools to enhance implementation of this policy, including but not limited to a Materials Review Committee comprised of content experts from OSHW and other relevant CPS departments including but not limited to the Office of Teaching and Learning and the Office of Social-Emotional Learning, to vet curricula and programs related to Nutrition Education, Physical Activity, and Gardens;
Establish a process to gather regular reporting and feedback from individual schools, community partners, students and parents on the implementation of the policy;
Establish a process for assessing the equity impact of this policy, including how the policy is implemented in relation to who is most impacted by inequity to determine targeted universalist supports for schools;
Collaborate with NSS to conduct periodic evaluations and report on district-wide and individual schools’ compliance with the Policy; and
By June 2026, conduct a district-wide review and assessment of this policy and propose relevant Policy revisions.

XIII. School Progress Report Measure

CPS will provide an annual indicator on the CPS School Progress Report that is directly correlated with the school’s health and wellness environment and school’s compliance with this and any applicable federal regulations and related Board policy. CPS will also provide an annual report of district-wide policy compliance on the public-facing website.

XIV. Review of Policy Coordination Efforts

The Chief Health Officer and Executive Director of NSS must designate individuals from central office departments and schools, as well as external stakeholders to convene at least annually, and on an as-needed basis, to review CPS wellness and community coordination efforts and opportunities.

XV. Guidelines

The Chief Health Officer and Executive Director of NSS or designee is authorized to develop and implement guidelines, standards and toolkits to ensure the effective implementation of this policy.

Policy References

Amends/Rescinds	Rescinds Board Report 22-0622-PO4 Amends 20-1216-PO2
Cross References	Board Rule 6-25 17-0628-PO4 [407.4- Breakfast After the Bell] 21-1027-PO1 [605.9 - Physical Education] 22-0323-PO1 [704.13- Comprehensive Mental Health and Suicide Prevention] 22-0622-PO5 [705.5A- Addressing Bullying and Bias-Based Behaviors] 22-0928-PO2 [102.8A - Comprehensive Non-Discrimination, Harassment, Sexual Harassment, Sexual Misconduct and Retaliation] 20-1216-PO2 [Rescinds 17-0628-PO5 and 17-0628-PO6 [407.3 – Healthy Snack and Beverage Policy] Note: 12-1024-PO1 Rescinds 06-0823-PO4 and 95-0527-PO1
Legal References	Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, 42 USC 1751; Illinois Critical Health Problems and Comprehensive Health Education Act 105 ILCS 110 et seq;, 7 CFR Parts 210 and 220, USDA Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards; 105 ILCS 5/27- 6.3.;105 ILCS 5/10-20.60; 105 ILCS 5/2-3.189; 105 ILCS 125/5.5 new, Equal Access Act of 1984. H.R. 5345
Public Comment	Pursuant to Board Rule 2-6 this Policy was subject to Public Comment from 03/17/23-04/17/23 Pursuant to Board Rule 2-6 this Policy was subject to Public Comment from 4/22/22 - 5/23/22 Pursuant to Board Rule 2-6 this Policy was subject to Public Comment from 10/9/20 – 11/9/20