Vermont School Wellness Policy
(Revised: October 2023)
Introduction
Vermont’s School Wellness Policy Guidelines and Implementation resource was developed in 2019
using Local School Wellness Policy Final Rule and USDA’s Smart Snacks Nutrition Standards for all
Foods Sold in Schools, as required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. In 2021, the Vermont
State Legislature passed Act 66, which required the inclusion of Comprehensive Health Education into
the existing model Local Wellness Policy and to further “assist the Agency to plan, coordinate, and
encourage wellness and comprehensive health programs in the public schools.” More than thirty-two
professional, community-based and membership organizations and government agencies were
solicited to provide input and feedback at different stages of development of this revised Vermont
Local Wellness Policy Guide to ensure it was as comprehensive in scope as possible. To maintain
consistency with the former School Wellness Policy Guidelines governed by federal statutes and
standards, we have maintained to the best of our ability the existing structure of the guidelines in this
updated guide.
An LWP is a written document that guides the local education agency (LEA) to create supportive,
healthy school environments that align comprehensive health and wellness education, school nutrition
and physical activity standards and expectations to support the whole learner. The responsibility for
developing, implementing, and evaluating a wellness policy is placed at the local level, so the unique
needs of each school under the LEA’s jurisdiction can be addressed.
Each LEA participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program is required
to develop and implement a local wellness policy (LWP) in accordance with Healthy, Hunger-Free
Kids Act of 2010. These federal standards are subject to change. As changes are made, Vermont’s
School Wellness Policy will be updated to comply with the federal minimum requirements.
This guide was created and updated for use by Vermont LEAs to meet federal and state laws and
related regulations. Included in the sections that follow are tables that with statutory, regulatory,
and/or policy requirements and citations in the first column, and model local wellness policy language
to support compliance with those requirements in the second column. These sections highlight areas
where implementation opportunities exist, as well as areas where practices are well-established relative
to the related wellness policy component. Where there is model policy language, we have referenced
alignment to sections of the Vermont Agency of Education Model Local Wellness Policy. This has been
included for local school boards and administrators to understand how components of the streamlined
recommended Vermont Agency of Education Model Local Wellness Policy correspond to sections of
this guide.
At the top of each section is a hyperlink to a separate document with resources and strategies. These
tools were created to provide supports for implementation of a Local Wellness Policy. Different
stakeholders, from educators to counselors to food directors, may find these tools helpful in addition to
administrators, school boards and members of a Local Wellness Policy team.