Measuring the Implementation of a School Wellness Policy

Snelling, Anastasia; Belson, Sarah Irvine; Watts, Elizabeth; Malloy, Elizabeth J.; Dyke, Hugo Van; George, Stephanie; Schlicker, Sandra A.; Katz, Nancy

doi:10.1111/josh.12548

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Related, a recent study in Washington, DC, documented better implementation of nutrition-related school policies than those for physical education. 41 The subgroup of adolescents in the healthy weight range were significantly more likely than other students to experience weight stability, suggesting that "prevention may be better than cure." 17,42 Prevention trials-focused on preventing healthy-weight children from becoming overweight-have documented moderate-to-strong support for school-based interventions that focus on the kinds of nutrition and physical activity initiatives implemented.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementing School-Based Policies to Prevent Obesity: Cluster Randomized Trial

Ickovics

Duffany

Shebl

et al. 2019

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

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Introduction: Healthier school environments can benefit students, and school wellness policies may result in meaningful enhancements. Schools participating in federal child nutrition programs must implement wellness policies as mandated by law. The primary study objective is to assess effectiveness of implementing school-based nutrition and physical activity policies on student BMI trajectories. Study design: Cluster randomized trial using 2 × 2 factorial design. Setting/participants: Twelve randomly selected schools in an urban district. Students were followed for 3 years through middle school, fifth to eighth grades (2011-2015, n=595 students, 92.3% participation, 85.2% retention). Intervention: Specific to randomized condition, support was provided for implementation of nutrition policies (e.g., alternatives to food-based rewards/celebrations) and physical activity policies (e.g., opportunities for physical activity during/after school). Main outcome measures: Sex-/age-adjusted BMI percentile and BMI z-score; behavioral indicators. Data collected via standardized protocols. Results: Analyses followed intention-to-treat principles, with planned secondary analyses (conducted 2016-2018). Students at schools randomized to receive support for nutrition policy implementation had healthier BMI trajectories over time (F=3.20, p=0.02), with a greater magnitude over time and cumulatively significant effects 3 years post-intervention (β= −2.40, p=0.04). Overall, students at schools randomized to receive the nutrition intervention had an increase in BMI percentile of <1%, compared with students in other conditions, whereas BMI

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Implementing School-Based Policies to Prevent Obesity: Cluster Randomized Trial

Ickovics

Duffany

Shebl

et al. 2019

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

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“…Finally, the implementation of district board policy was assessed using a self‐report measure that may be susceptible to recall and social desirability biases. Reports from principals (or designees) have been used to assess implementation of school policies elsewhere …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

School‐Level Factors Associated with Sun Protection Practices in California Elementary Schools

Reynolds

Buller

Berteletti

et al. 2020

Journal of School Health

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BACKGROUND:This study examined implementation of district sun safety policy in schools and tested correlates of implementation in California public school districts. METHODS:Principals (N = 118) and teachers (N = 113) in California public elementary schools (N = 118) were recruited and completed a survey on sun protection policies and practices. The sample contained schools whose districts subscribed to the California School Boards Association and adopted Board Policy 5141.7 for sun safety. Principals and teachers reported on implementation of 10 school practices related to BP 5141.7 indicating which practices were implemented in the school. RESULTS:Years in public education (Exponentiated Score (ES) = 0.51, p < .001), years worked in the current district (ES = 0.49, p < .001), perception that parents should take action to protect children from the sun (ES = 0.43, p < .01), and personal skin phenotype (Low Risk ES = 0.55; High Risk ES = 0.09, p < .05) were associated with number of practices implemented in the school using multiple Poisson regression. CONCLUSIONS:Policy implementation is more likely among schools with experienced faculty, when parents are seen as important partners in student skin cancer prevention, and when school principals and teachers have a lower personal risk phenotype. X. School-level factors associated with sun protection practices in California elementary schools.

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“…These findings are echoed in the recent Shape of the Nation report, which found that few states have many of these policies in place. This lack of state policy support provides a possible explanation as to why schools might not be adopting and implementing these policies . Future studies are needed to better understand the impact of state and district physical education policies on the interpretation, adoption, and implementation of these policies at the school level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Education Policies in US Schools: Differences by School Characteristics

Michael

Brener

Lee

et al. 2019

Journal of School Health

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BACKGROUND:We assessed the extent to which schools in the United States implement physical education policies identified in SHAPE America's Essential Components of Physical Education document and how implementation of these policies varies by school characteristics. METHODS:School policy data were collected as part of the 2014 School Health Policies and Practices Study via computer-assisted personal interviews in a nationally representative sample of K-12 schools and were linked to extant data on school characteristics. Bivariate analyses and Poisson regression model were used to examine how physical education policies differed by school characteristics. RESULTS:Five physical education policies varied by region and 3 varied by school level. Requiring certified, licensed, or endorsed physical education teachers varied by all school characteristics except school level and percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. The average number of physical education policies implemented by schools was 3.0. The number of policies varied by metropolitan status and school level. CONCLUSIONS:The findings suggest many schools are only implementing a few of the physical education policies that can strengthen their physical education programs. These findings can be used to target professional development and technical assistance for physical education practitioners on policy and implementation.

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Measuring the Implementation of a School Wellness Policy

Abstract: Understanding how schools are complying with school wellness policies is a next step to determining where additional resources or support are needed in order to support school-wide adoption of healthy policies.

Cited by 10 publications

References 22 publications

Implementing School-Based Policies to Prevent Obesity: Cluster Randomized Trial

Implementing School-Based Policies to Prevent Obesity: Cluster Randomized Trial

School‐Level Factors Associated with Sun Protection Practices in California Elementary Schools

Physical Education Policies in US Schools: Differences by School Characteristics

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