What are Midwestern states doing to promote better nutrition and increase physical activity in local schools?
Recent legislative action has focused on ensuring that local school districts comply with congressional changes made in 2004 to the National School Lunch/School Breakfast Program. Under federal law, school districts participating in the program will be required by the 2006-07 school year to have a local wellness policy in place. The plan must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision and other school-based wellness activities. The Illinois General Assembly passed a bill this year to create a School Wellness Policy Task Force. This group would help facilitate the implementation of wellness policies in each local school district and develop statewide school nutrition standards. The group also would evaluate the effectiveness of various wellness policies. As of early July, Gov. Rod Blagojevich had not yet signed the measure. His signature also was needed on another wellness-related bill. It would create a public recognition program for schools that encour
