School Policies
Steps provides schools with technical assistance to offer students, staff and faculty a healthy environment in compliance with school policies, such as the Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act, the Physical Education Act and the Healthy Vending Act.
Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act (Act 815)
The “Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act” (Act No. 815), effective since January 1, 2007, prohibits smoking in elementary and secondary schools, as well as in public buildings and public places in enclosed areas within a place of employment.
Louisiana legislatives recently passed the Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act in response to Louisiana citizens who want and deserve the right to breathe clean, smoke-free air. This marks a major turning point for our state, placing Louisiana among national leaders in an effort to protect Americans from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
For more information about Act 815, visit The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living
View Steps’ Louisiana Smoke Free Air Act brochure
Physical Education Act (Act 734)
In 2004, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 12.5 million children and adolescents were overweight. In response to the growing problem of overweight and obesity in children, the Louisiana Legislature passed the Physical Education Act.
All public schools, grades K-6, are now required to provide at least 30 minutes of quality moderate to vigorous physical activity each day for students. For students with disabilities, special needs or chronic health problems, a suitably adapted physical activity must be provided.
Each year, no later than September 1st, every K-6 public school, must report to its school board information outlining school programs that reflect compliance. The school board will then report its finding to the State Board no later than October 1st of each year.
Steps is offering technical assistance to schools with suggestions for fun and creative physical activities that will fit into any curriculum and help schools to comply with the Physical Education Act. For more information, contact Alison Heston.
View Steps’ Physical Education Act brochure
Healthy Vending Act (Act 331)
Childhood obesity rates are on the rise. Louisiana has one of the highest obesity rates in the nation. The over-consumption of snack foods and soft drinks is a contributing factor to the obesity epidemic.
Louisiana legislators recently passed a Healthy Vending Act that limits the sale of certain food and beverages in public elementary and secondary school vending machines. The Act also heavily restricts the sale of vending machine products in public high schools.
For elementary or secondary schools, the act limits the times during the day when food and drink vending machines can be accessed by students. It also requires that food and drinks sold meet specific nutritional guidelines and not exceed a certain size or quantity. A similar, though less strict, set of guidelines applies to high schools.
The State of Louisiana, with the guidance of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, has developed a thorough list of beverages and foods that may be sold on public elementary, secondary and high school grounds. To get a list of healthy snacks and drinks, or to obtain an assessment of your school’s current vending machine options, visit the PBRC website at: http://www.pbrc.edu/Division_of_Education/Tools/School_Vending.asp
Guidelines for Elementary and Secondary Public Schools:
- Food and drink restrictions begin 30 minutes before the start of the school day and remains in place until 30 minutes after the school day ends
- Except for milk and water, no beverage can exceed 16 ounces
- Beverages allowed to be sold during school hours include:
- 100% vegetable or fruit juices containing no natural or artificial sweeteners
- Unsweetened flavored or unflavored drinking water
- Low-fat or skim flavored or unflavored milk or non-dairy milk
- Snacks are limited. Except for unsweetened or uncoated seeds or nuts, food items meeting any of the below criteria may not be sold during restricted hours:
- Foods considered of minimal nutritional value as defined in Section 220.2 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulation
- Foods that contain:
- More than 150 calories per serving
- More than 35% of calories from fat
- More than 30 grams of sugar per serving
- Fresh pastries
Guidelines for High Schools:
- Vending machines may be accessed only during the final ten minutes of each lunch period
- Except for milk and water, no beverage can exceed 16 ounces
- During the restricted times, 50% of the beverages offered must be comprised of:
- 100% vegetable or fruit juices containing no natural or artificial sweeteners
- Unsweetened flavored or unflavored drinking water
- Low-fat or skim flavored or unflavored milk or non-dairy milk
- During restricted times, 50% of the snacks available must meet a certain criteria. Except for unsweetened or uncoated seeds or nuts, half of the snacks sold can not:
- Fall below minimal nutritional value as defined in Section 220.2 of Title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulation
- Contain more than 150 calories per serving
- Have more than 35% of calories from fat
- Have more than 30 grams of sugar per serving