Models for Success

Advances in school nutrition and physical activity are taking place in thousands of communities as a result of local school wellness policies. Though the July 1 deadline for adopting School Wellness Policies has passed, schools should continuously examine and reexamine their local wellness policies and make changes as needed.

Throughout the year, this section will feature model policies that address all aspects of school wellness, including how nutrient-rich dairy fits into wellness policies. Milk can, and should be, an important part of a wellness policy. Many students get virtually their entire daily dairy consumption at school.

Michigan Department of Education: Model for Local Districts

In Michigan, the State Board of Education developed a model wellness policy to assist Michigan school districts with developing their local wellness policies. With the involvement of teachers, parents, students, school foodservices, school administrators and the public, each district then modified the model to reflect local needs. As a result, the state was able to ensure that local districts would develop wellness policies that met Michigan's overall needs. Yet, at the district level, policies also could reflect local needs and be monitored and changed as needed.

Michigan's comprehensive, model policy includes:

• Guidelines for nutrition education
• Nutrition standards
• Physical education and physical activity opportunities
• Guidelines for healthy school parties
• Guidelines for alternatives to food rewards
• Smart fundraising ideas, and more!

Download (PDF) Michigan's Model Policy.