Coordinated School Health

Districts shall establish a local school health wellness policy beginning after June 30, 2005. Senate Bill 19, Code 28.04 states that school districts in Texas must have an (SHAC) school health advisory council and the intent of the bill is to advise in the area of health education. Parents must be the majority of the council members. Senate Bill 42 expands scope of Senate Bill 19. The results of SB 42 are: 1.) The bill expands PE requirements to include students in middle/junior high schools. 2.) Ensures accountability measures are in place as districts must report implementation measures to the Commissioner of Education on a yearly basis, 3.) Districts must implement a coordinated school health curriculum which expands to include middle/junior high schools. 4.) Requires districts to publish in student handbooks or school websites policies regarding school health and physical activity, policies and penalties for the use of tobacco products on campus or school sponsored events and the number of times the school health advisory council met the previous year. SHAC is Texas Law and applies to students in K-8th grades. The Wellness Policy is a Federal Law and applies to students in grades K-12th . The Federal Laws principle goal is to reduce childhood obesity through improved nutrition and increased physical activity. The Wellness policy has five key components which include: 1.) A diverse group of individuals help develop policy including parents, students, administrators, board members, food service, and members of the public. 2.) Policies must establish goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school based activities that are designed to promote wellness. 3.) Nutrition guidelines must be in place with objectives for promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity. 4.) Policy must provide an assurance that guidelines for reimbursable meals will comply with the USDA guidance. 5.) There must be a provision that allows for measuring implementation of the policy, along with identifying an administrator responsible for ensuring compliance with the policy. Finally, no policy can prohibit a parent from providing food for a classroom on a child’s birthday or school designated function.

• JISD has a functioning SHAC that met three times last school year and the SHAC developed the school districts wellness policy. (you can find the Wellness Policy in the FFA (local) under student welfare/wellness and health services.



• Physical activity requirements and tobacco use policy and penalties are found in student handbooks.