Education

Schools could encourage the use of healthy, sustainable foods sourced from the region in school cafeterias, lunch periods could be longer to help students enjoy their food.

Develop policies that require basic skills training about nutrition and cooking in public schools, support school gardens as a way to introduce healthy food knowledge, science and cultural knowledge, provide community food production classes, or assist with business planning and accounting skills for those who want to engage in business in the food system.

One section of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires that all school districts that participate in the National School Lunch Program have local wellness policies by July 1, 2006. The School Nutrition Association (formerly ASFSA) has put together tools to help assist the school community in dealing with this new requirement.

This bill mandates food standards for all schools in the state of California. Food sold in all K-12 schools must have limited fat, calories and sugar.

This bill in the California legislature expands restrictions on beverages that can be sold in elementary and middle schools to high schools. Only certain drinks that meet sugar, fat and caloric restrictions may be sold.

The Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second largest school district, voted to ban soft drink sales in all district schools. The school district is diverse and a 75.5% of LAUSD students qualified for free or reduced priced federal meals. The policy includes a monitoring mechanism and a workgroup to address any shortfalls affecting the student organization (Associated Student Body) due to the elimination of soda sales.

Jovenes Unidos found that youth of color in Denver are being pushed into jail cells instead of being put behind school desks. Nationwide, youth of color are targeted for more and harsher discipline than their white counterparts. Colorado students proposed solutions to their school boards and city council, including changing city policy, changing district policy, creating alternative discipline measures and a community oversight board.

In 2007 West Philadelphia High School opened in the fall with four themed academies based on student surveys, a major first step in the transformation of the school. The Urban Studies Academy was one for which the Philadelphia Student Union had to fight particularly hard. The Urban Study selective class ended up being a great success. Students engaged in a hands-on project using new technologies such as GIS mapping where they created a professional proposal to transform a vacant lot into a garden and community space.

The Holyoke Food and Fitness Strategy Council devised a workplan under the category of School System that includes the creation of a school wellness council and a full-time postion of school wellness coordinator. The Council also identified the use of locally grown products in schools as an action item.