Regulation EEE-R(1) Wellness Program - Student Wellness Program - August 11, 2025 - DCSD Board Meeting Archive

Board Policy Manual
DeKalb County School District

Regulation EEE-R(1): Wellness Program - Student Wellness Program Status: ADOPTED

Original Adopted Date: 08/01/2025 | Last Reviewed Date: 08/01/2025

Pursuant to the DCSD School Board Wellness Policy (EEE), this regulation is to be utilized by DCSD in the application
of the Wellness policy:
I. GOAL FOR SCHOOL FOOD, NUTRITION PROMOTION AND EDUCATION:
a. All school nutrition program directors, managers and staff will meet or exceed the hiring and
annual continuing education/training requirements in the USDA professional standards for child
nutrition professionals.
b. The district will offer annual professional learning opportunities and resources for staff to increase
knowledge and skills to promote healthy behaviors in the classroom and school.
c. School Nutrition Services will incorporate nutrition education and promotions into school meal
programs through monthly menus, nutrition promotions, activities, posters, website links, signage,
and other means when feasible.
d. DCSD will teach, model, encourage and support healthy eating for all students. This is supported
through teaching current nutrition standards throughout the curriculum.
e. Local foods will be offered and promoted to students at least once per month as part of the School
Nutrition program.
f. Schools will be encouraged to participate in farm-to-school activities such as school gardens,
curriculum-based lessons, taste tests, cooking classes, farmer visits, school nutrition promotions,
and field trips that support local farms and local foods.
g. Schools will be encouraged to include health & wellness information in school newsletters and
other marketing materials to promote student health.
h. School Nutrition will include nutrition education on the School Nutrition Website to include but
not limited to farm-to-school information, nutrition web links, and wellness resources.
i. The district will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students throughout the school
campus and encourage participation in the school meal programs.
j. Students will be educated and exposed to a wide variety of food choices through the annual DCSD
SNS Student Voice, Student Choice Taste Testing.
II. GOAL FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION INTEGRITY FOR OBESITY REDUCTION:
a. Meals served during the school day will, at a minimum, comply with current USDA regulations
(Breakfast, Lunch, and Afternoon Snack). This includes the types and quantities of foods offered as
well as the overall nutritional content.
b. Schools will be encouraged to include health and wellness information in school newsletters and
other marketing materials to promote student health.
c. Schools will encourage parents and teachers to provide healthy snacks and water if food is served
during a celebration.
d. Participation in organizations that support obesity reduction is encouraged. Examples include
Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Stronger 4 Life, Child and Adult Care Feeding, Athletic
programs, Healthy Kids Challenge, No Kid Hungry.
III. GOAL FOR NUTRITION STANDARDS FOR COMPETITIVE FOODS AND BEVERAGES:
a. All competitive foods and beverages sold must comply with the USDA Smart Snacks in Schools nutrition
standards (7 CFR210.31(c)3(iii)). Competitive foods and beverages refer to those that are sold to
students outside the reimbursable meal on the school campus (i.e., locations on the school campus that
are accessible to students) during the school day (i.e., the midnight before to 30 minutes after the end of
the school day). The nutrition standards do not apply to foods and beverages sold at events held after
school, off-campus, or on weekends, such as school programs or sporting events.
The following standards will apply to all locations and services where foods and beverages are sold,
including a` la crate options in cafeterias, vending machines, school stores and snack for food carts.
Smart Snack Criteria (As of July 7, 2016)
Whole-Grain-Rich: Foods must be a whole-grain-rich product, meaning
they contain 50% or more whole grains by weight or have whole grains
listed as the first ingredient.
First Ingredient: The first ingredient must be a fruit, vegetable, dairy
product, or protein food.
Combination Food: Combination foods must contain at least 1/4 cup of
fruit and/or vegetable.
Snack Entree
Calories 200 calories or fewer 350 calories or fewer
Sodium 200 mg or less 480 mg or less
Total Fat 35% calories or less 35% calories or less
Saturated Fat Less than 10% of calories Less than 10% of calories
Trans Fat 0g 0g
Sugar 35% by weight or less 35% by weight or less

Smart Snack Beverages
Reference Chart (As of July 7, 2016)
ES MS HS
Water, Plain (with or without carbonation n o no no
limit limit limit
Low-fat milk, unflavored < 8 fl. < 12 < 12
oz. fl. oz. fl. oz.
Fat-free milk, unflavored < 8 fl. < 12 < 12
oz. fl. oz. fl. oz.
100% fruit and/or vegetable juice < 8 fl. < 12 < 12
oz. fl. oz. fl. oz.
100% fruit and/or vegetable juice diluted with water < 8 fl. < 12 < 12
(with or without carbonation) and no sweeteners oz. fl. oz. fl. oz.
Other flavored and/or carbonated beverages n ot not < 20
(containing < 5 calories / 8 oz. or < 10 calories / 20 oz.) allow allow fl. oz.
ed ed
Other flavored and/or carbonated beverages not not < 20
(containing < 40 calories / 8 oz. or < 60 calories / 12 allow allow fl. oz.
oz.) ed ed

b. Exempted Fundraising - As allowed by the Georgia Board of Education, schools may schedule 30 food-
related fundraisers per school year which do not meet Smart Snack guidelines (Exempted fundraisers).
Exempted fundraisers may:
Not exceed three days in length.
Not operate anywhere on the school campus 30 minutes prior until 30 minutes after the end of
breakfast and lunch meal services.
Not be sold in vending machines, school stores, snack bars or a` la carte sales during the school
day. Fundraisers occurring in these venues must meet the Smart Snack Standards.
i. Tracking is the responsibility of the school and must be maintained on file for 5 years plus the
current year. Tracking will be submitted with the annual portfolio.
ii. If a food or beverage meets the Smart Snack Guidelines, the food can be sold anywhere, anytime
on the school campus.

IV. GOAL FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: The district will provide age-appropriate curriculum for students
that meet National and State standards for physical education.
a. Physical activity will be encouraged throughout the day, including recess, classroom-based physical
activities, required and elective physical education (PE) classes and optional after-school sports
programs.
b. DCSD teachers are encouraged to incorporate physical activity into their lesson plans throughout
the school day and the extended school day.
c. DCSD students in grades K-12 are required to participate in a comprehensive health and physical
education program that includes the following:
1. Alcohol and other drug use
2. Disease prevention
3. Environmental health
4. Nutrition
5. Personal health
6. Sex education/AIDS education
7. Safety
8. Mental health
9. Growth and development
10. Consumer health
11. Community health
12. Health careers
13. Family living
14. Motor skills
15. Physical fitness
16. Lifetime sports
17. Outdoor education
18. Fitness assessment
d. Implement one school-wide physical activity promotion/activity from the following list:
1. Health Education Curriculum Initiatives
2. Field Day
3. Get Kids Moving Through Pep Rallies /Assemblies
4. BMI educational sessions
5. Classroom physical activity (daily exercise)
e. Physical education and unstructured break time will not be withheld as punishment.

V. GOAL FOR OTHER SCHOOL-BASED ACTIVITIES: Create a school environment in buildings and on
campuses that improves the health of the whole child through a variety of school-based wellness
activities.
a. Students will be educated to use good hand-washing techniques.
b. Educational activities will be provided which promote sustainable, environmentally friendly
practices (e.g., school gardens, recycling, composting, etc.) at various times throughout the
curriculum when appropriate.
c. Programs which support emotional health will be provided, such as hosting a Mental Health
Awareness Week - posters, events, or other promotions to reduce mental health stigma and
promotion of mental health awareness.
VI. GOAL FOR HEALTHY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT:
a. Students will have access to free palatable drinking water during the school day. Students will be
allowed to have water bottles at their desk, as applicable.
b. All schools will offer a source of water in the cafeteria and alternate serving areas during all meal
service (Breakfast, Lunch and Afternoon Snack).
c. Food and beverages will not be used as a reward or withheld as punishment.
d. Each school will establish a Wellness Committee and host monthly meetings held from October
through May.
e. Schools will offer programs which encourage student safety. For example: Cyber Safety, Anti-
Bullying, Worksite Safety, Chemical Exposure, Classroom Management, Conflict Resolution, Drug
Prevention and any training related to school safety.
f. Students will have access to safe, clean and hygienic restrooms.
g. Marketing will be consistent with nutrition education and health promotion. Schools will limit food
and beverage marketing to the promotion of foods and beverages permitted to be sold on the
school campus. Foods of minimal nutritional value, including brands and illustrations, shall not be
advertised or marketed in educational materials.
District Wellness Policy Implementation and Evaluation
a. The DeKalb County School District Executive Director of School Nutrition Services will oversee
the operation and program of each school are compliant with the local school wellness policy
(EEE).
b. The District Wellness Advisory Council will meet at least four times per year to establish goals for
and oversee school health and safety policies and programs, including development,
implementation, and periodic review and update of this district-level wellness policy.
c. The DCSD Advisory Council will represent all school levels (elementary and secondary schools)
and include (to the extent possible), but not limited to parents and caregivers; students;
representatives of the school nutrition program; physical education teachers; health education
teachers; school health professionals, school administrators; the superintendent and school board
members; health professionals; and the public.
d. Each school within the district will establish an ongoing School Wellness Committee by October 1
of each school year using the key members outlined in the CDC Health Schools Whole School,
Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC). The committee will organize school-wide wellness
initiatives that align with the district's Wellness composite score criteria.
e. The school's Annual Wellness Portfolio reflecting wellness activities at the school level, will be
submitted at the end of each school year. Fundraising tracking will also be included in the
portfolio.
f. DeKalb County School District Annual Wellness Portfolio evaluations will be completed by School
Nutrition Services during the months of June and July for submission to the superintendent.
ANNUAL NOTIFICATION
The district will actively inform families and the public each year of basic information about the district
wellness policy and procedures, including its content, any updates to the policy and implementation
status. The district will make this information available via the district website and district-wide
communications.

POLICY REVISIONS & UPDATES
The District Wellness Advisory Committee will recommend updates to the wellness policy based on the
results of the triennial assessments. Updates may also be recommended as district priorities and
community needs change; wellness goals are met; new health science recommendations are received;
information and technology emerges; and new federal or state guidance policies or standards are issued.
The wellness policy will be assessed and updated as indicated at least every three years, following the
triennial assessment.

RECORDKEEPING
Documentation regarding the Wellness Policy and Procedures will be found on the School Nutrition
website at http://www.dekalbschoolsga.org/school-nutrition/wellness-regulation/

Documentation maintained will include but will not be limited to:
a. The written wellness policy and updates.
b. Verification that the policy has been made available to the public, including the last updated policy.
c. Verification of annual public notification requirements.
d. The most recent assessment on the implementation of the local school wellness policy.
e. Results of Triennial Assessment.

Agenda Item