# School Nutrition-Environment State Policy Classification System

# 

+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| # De               |                                                 |
| finition of terms  |                                                 |
| that are used thro |                                                 |
| ughout the SNESPCS |                                                 |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| # Terminology      | # Definition                                    |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| #                  | # USDA and GAO defined to include all           |
|  Competitive foods |  foods and beverages sold outside of the reimbu |
|                    | rsable federal school meal program.[^1]^,^[^2]  |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| # Federal          | # This refers to the 2005 federal               |
| dietary guidelines |  dietary guidelines that recommends total fat i |
|                    | ntake of less than 35% of calories (saturated f |
|                    | at at less than 10% of calories) for ages 4 to  |
|                    | 18; little added sugars or caloric sweeteners,  |
|                    | and consumption of fiber rich fruit, vegetables |
|                    |  and whole grains and non-fat dairy foods.[^3]  |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| # Food             | # Such food include c                           |
|  of minimal nutrit | arbonated beverages, water ices, chewing gum, h |
| ional value (FMNV) | ard candy, jellies and gums, marshmallow candie |
|                    | s, fondant, licorice, spun candy, and candy-coa |
|                    | ted popcorn (7 CFR 210 Appendix B).[^4]^,^[^5]  |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| # Food             | # This refers to food and                       |
| and beverages of l |  beverages providing most of its calories from  |
| ow nutritive value | fat and/or sugar and few vitamins and minerals. |
+--------------------+-------------------------------------------------+

# 

**Competitive Foods: *A la carte*** **in cafeterias** in Elementary (ES)
Middle (MS) and High (HS) Schools

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Sc  | **Description**                                              |
| ore** |                                                              |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **5** | ES/MS/HS: State prohibits the sale or service of *A la       |
|       | carte* (individual) food and beverages outside the           |
|       | reimbursable school meal programs, with exceptions only for  |
|       | the sale or service of water, low-fat / non-fat milk,        |
|       | beverages with at least 100% fruit/vegetable juice with no   |
|       | added caloric sweeteners, and non-fried fruit and            |
|       | vegetables.                                                  |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **4** | ES/MS/HS: State mandates nutrition standards that meet or    |
|       | exceed federal dietary guidelines,^3^ with specified limits  |
|       | on fats and added sugar and requirement(s) for               |
|       | nutrient-dense options, applicable to all *A la carte* food  |
|       | and beverage items sold or served in cafeterias outside the  |
|       | school meal program.                                         |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **3** | ES/MS/HS: State restricts sale/service of *A la carte* food  |
|       | and beverages of low nutritive value beyond federal          |
|       | requirements for FMNV, but without establishing nutrition    |
|       | standards that meet or exceed federal dietary guidelines.^3^ |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **2** | ES/MS/HS: State requirement for *A la carte* food and        |
|       | beverages sold or served in cafeterias outside the school    |
|       | meal program is undefined (e.g., "healthy" foods and         |
|       | beverages must be available); or state requires a state      |
|       | agency to develop and adopt nutrition standards applicable   |
|       | to *A la carte* sales/service.                               |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **1** | ES/MS/HS: State recommends nutrition standards for *A la     |
|       | carte* items.                                                |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **0** | ES/MS/HS: No provision.                                      |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Tra | [Potential enhancement factor]{.underline}: Applies if state |
| cking | specifies portion sizes.                                     |
| varia |                                                              |
| ble** | [Potential enhancement factor:]{.underline} Applies if       |
|       | penalties are established for violations.                    |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

**Competitive Foods: Vending Machines** in Elementary (ES) Middle (MS)
and High (HS) schools

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Sc  | **Description**                                              |
| ore** |                                                              |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **6** | ES/MS/HS: State prohibits the sale or service of             |
|       | non-reimbursable food and beverages in vending machines (or  |
|       | student access to vending machines selling such items), with |
|       | exceptions only for the sale or service of water, low-fat /  |
|       | non-fat milk, beverages with at least 100% fruit/vegetable   |
|       | juice with no added caloric sweeteners, and non-fried fruit  |
|       | and vegetables.                                              |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **5** | ES/MS/HS: State mandates nutrition standards that meet or    |
|       | exceed federal dietary guidelines,^3^ with specific limits   |
|       | on fats and added sugar and specific requirement(s) for      |
|       | nutrient-dense options, applicable to all food and beverage  |
|       | items sold or served outside the school meal program in      |
|       | vending machines (or access to such vended items).           |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **4** | ES/MS/HS: State prohibits, at any time during school hours   |
|       | (beyond meal service times in the cafeteria), vending (or    |
|       | access to vending) of FMNV, including, but not limited to,   |
|       | carbonated beverages (e.g., no vended soda during school     |
|       | hours).                                                      |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **3** | ES/MS/HS: State mandates a restriction on vended             |
|       | food/beverages of low nutritive value beyond federal         |
|       | requirements for FMNV, but for fewer than all school hours.  |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **2** | ES/MS/HS: State requirement for food and beverages           |
|       | sold/served in vending machines outside the school meal      |
|       | program is undefined (e.g., "healthy" foods and beverages    |
|       | must be available); or state requires the development of     |
|       | nutrition standards applicable to vending machines           |
|       | sales/service.                                               |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **1** | ES/MS/HS: State recommends nutrition standards for vended    |
|       | items.                                                       |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **0** | ES/MS/HS: No provision.                                      |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Tra | [Potential enhancement factor]{.underline}: Applies if State |
| cking | specifies portion sizes for vended items.                    |
| varia |                                                              |
| ble** | [Potential enhancement factor:]{.underline} Applies if       |
|       | penalties are established for violations.                    |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

**Competitive Foods: Other venues** in Elementary (ES) Middle (MS) and
High (HS) Schools

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Sc  | **Description**                                              |
| ore** |                                                              |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **6** | ES/MS/HS: State prohibits the sale or service of non-vended  |
|       | food and beverages sold or served outside of (reimbursable)  |
|       | school meal programs, with exceptions only for the sale or   |
|       | service of water, low-fat/ non-fat milk, beverages with at   |
|       | least 100% fruit/vegetable juice with no added caloric       |
|       | sweeteners, and non-fried fruit and vegetables.              |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **5** | ES/MS/HS: State mandates nutrition standards that meet or    |
|       | exceed federal dietary guidelines,^3^ with specific limits   |
|       | on fats and added sugar and specific requirement(s) for      |
|       | nutrient-dense options, applicable to all food and beverage  |
|       | items sold or served outside the school meal program in any  |
|       | non-vended setting (i.e., school stores/canteens/snack bars, |
|       | fundraisers, and classrooms).                                |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **4** | ES/MS/HS: State prohibits, at any time during school hours   |
|       | (beyond meal service times in the cafeteria), non-vended     |
|       | sales or service food or beverages of FMNV's including, but  |
|       | not limited to, carbonated beverages.                        |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **3** | ES/MS/HS: State mandates a restriction on sales or service   |
|       | of food/beverages of low nutritive value in settings that    |
|       | include, but are not limited to, stores/canteens/snack bars, |
|       | applicable beyond federal requirements for FMNV, but for     |
|       | fewer than all school hours                                  |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **2** | ES/MS/HS: State requirement for non-vended food and          |
|       | beverages sold/served outside the school meal program is     |
|       | undefined (e.g., "healthy" foods and beverages must be       |
|       | available); or state requires a state agency to develop and  |
|       | adopt nutrition standards applicable to non-vended settings. |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **1** | ES/MS/HS: State recommends or offers voluntary guidelines    |
|       | for non-vended food/beverages sold outside the school meal   |
|       | program.                                                     |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **0** | ES/MS/HS: No provision.                                      |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **    | [Potential enhancement factor]{.underline}: Applies if state |
| Track | specifies portion sizes.                                     |
| ing** |                                                              |
|       | [Potential enhancement factor:]{.underline} Applies if       |
| **V   | penalties are established for violations.                    |
| ariab |                                                              |
| les** |                                                              |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

Reimbursable School Meal in Elementary (ES) Middle (MS) and High (HS)
Schools

  ----------- --------------------------------------------------------------
  **Score**   **Description**

  **3**       ES/MS/HS: State addresses nutrition in (reimbursable) school
              meal programs with specific requirements or standards that
              exceed compliance with federal regulations for school meals (7
              CFR 210 for the National School Lunch Program and 7 CFR 220
              for the School breakfast program) (e.g., State prohibits
              deep-fried foods in school meals and requires school menus to
              include nutritional information).

  **2**       ES/MS/HS: State addresses nutrition in (reimbursable) school
              meal programs with a general mandate to develop and adopt
              requirements or standards that exceed compliance with federal
              regulations (e.g., State Board of Education is required to
              establish nutrition standards for all food and beverages sold
              or served in schools, including school nutrition programs).

  **1**       ES/MS/HS: State recommends nutrition standards for school
              meals that exceed compliance with federal regulations.

  **0**       ES/MS/HS: No provision.
  ----------- --------------------------------------------------------------

School Meal Environment

  ----------- --------------------------------------------------------------
  **Score**   **Description**

  **3**       State mandates two standards (beyond the school meal federal
              requirements)^6,7^ for designated meal periods, in categories
              such as: (1) specific meal scheduling time requirements (e.g.,
              lunch must be served between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and/or lunch
              must follow recess), and (2) specific eating time requirements
              (e.g., school must provide 20 minutes for students to eat
              after students are seated)

  **2**       State mandates one standard (beyond the school meal federal
              requirements)^6,7^ for designated meal period, in categories
              such as: (1) specific meal scheduling time requirements (e.g.,
              lunch must be served between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.), and/or (2)
              specific eating time requirements (e.g., school must provide
              20 minutes for students to eat after students are seated).

  **1**       State recommends requirements for designated meal periods that
              exceed compliance with federal regulations for the school
              meal.

  **0**       No provision.
  ----------- --------------------------------------------------------------

Food Service Director Qualifications

  ------------ --------------------------------------------------------------
  **Score**    **Description**

  **4**        State requires newly-hired district food service directors to
               have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in nutrition, dietetics,
               food service management, (or related field) or
               certification/credentialing from either a state or national
               program (e.g., American School Food Service Association or
               American Dietetic Association) at a level that specifies a
               post-secondary degree and a minimum requirement for
               specialized training in a nutrition-related field.

  **3**        State requires newly-hired food service directors to have a
               minor in a nutrition, dietetics, food service management (or
               related field) or certification/credentialing that specifies a
               post-secondary degree (e.g., associate's degree) and a minimum
               requirement for specialized training in a nutrition-related
               field.

  **2**        State requires newly-hired district food service directors to
               have a high school degree / GED and, in addition, a minimum
               requirement for specialized training in a nutrition-related
               field; or state requires certification/credentialing that
               specifies a HS/GED degree with a minimum requirement for
               specialized training in a nutrition-related field.

  **1**        State recommends credentials for food service directors (or
               State certification is voluntary).

  **0**        No provision.

  **Tracking   [Potential enhancement factor]{.underline}: applies if state
  variable**   addresses professional development for food service directors,
               whether related to certification or otherwise.
  ------------ --------------------------------------------------------------

**Coordinating or Advisory Councils**

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Sc  | **Description**                                              |
| ore** |                                                              |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **3** | State mandates that districts or schools form school health  |
|       | coordinating or advisory councils that include a nutrition   |
|       | component (e.g., Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP)),  |
|       | whether linked to local wellness policies required by the    |
|       | federal "Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 |
|       | (P.L. 108-265 section 204)" or otherwise, establishes a      |
|       | state-wide infrastructure to support such programs.          |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **2** | State mandates that districts or schools form school health  |
|       | coordinating or advisory councils (e.g., Coordinated School  |
|       | Health Program (CSHP)), whether linked to local wellness     |
|       | policies required by the federal "Child Nutrition and WIC    |
|       | Reauthorization Act of 2004" or otherwise.                   |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **1** | State recommends voluntary coordinating or advisory councils |
|       | for districts or schools.                                    |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **0** | No provision.                                                |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **    | [Potential enhancement factor]{.underline}: applies if state |
| Track | creates a board/commission/ committee to provide advice and  |
| ing** | recommendations related to nutrition and youth overweight    |
|       | policies.                                                    |
| **    |                                                              |
| varia |                                                              |
| ble** |                                                              |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

**Nutrition Education** in Elementary (ES) Middle (MS) and High (HS)
Schools

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Sc  | **Description**                                              |
| ore** |                                                              |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **4** | ES/MS/HS: State requires a curriculum to                     |
|       | incorporate/integrate sequential nutrition education content |
|       | into standards-based health education curriculum with        |
|       | reference to specific nutrition standards.                   |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **3** | ES/MS/HS: State requires a curriculum to                     |
|       | incorporate/integrate sequential nutrition education content |
|       | into standards-based health education curriculum without     |
|       | reference to specific nutrition standards.                   |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **2** | ES/MS/HS: State requires a curriculum to incorporate         |
|       | nutrition education content into health curriculum without   |
|       | reference to any additional requirements.                    |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **1** | ES/MS/HS: State recommends nutrition education content.      |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **0** | ES/MS/HS: No provision.                                      |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Tra | [Potential enhancement factor]{.underline}: applies if state |
| cking | specifies that schools must integrate/ coordinate nutrition  |
| v     | instruction in the school with the food service program      |
| ariab | and/or instruction in other subjects.                        |
| les** |                                                              |
|       | [Potential enhancement factor:]{.underline} applies if state |
|       | specifies hours of student instruction per year (e.g., 50    |
|       | hours per year) and/or hours of nutrition education          |
|       | professional development (e.g., 10 hours per year).          |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

Marketing: Advertising

+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Sc  | **Description**                                              |
| ore** |                                                              |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **5** | State mandates the promotion of non-commercial healthy       |
|       | school nutrition information / activities and prohibits      |
|       | commercial advertising/promotion of food and beverages that  |
|       | do not conform to specified nutrition standards that meet or |
|       | exceed federal dietary guidelines.^3^                        |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **4** | State prohibits commercial advertising/promotion of all food |
|       | and beverages that do not conform to specified nutrition     |
|       | standards that meet or exceed federal dietary guidelines.^3^ |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **3** | State limits commercial advertising/promotion for            |
|       | low-nutrient food and beverages in certain locations and/or  |
|       | at certain times (e.g., direct advertising, such as a        |
|       | requirement to switch vending machine signage for soda to    |
|       | signage for water; or indirect advertising, such as a ban on |
|       | providing FMNV's^3^ and all forms of candy as a free         |
|       | promotion).                                                  |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **2** | State requirement for advertising/marketing is undefined     |
|       | (e.g. schools must promote "healthy" food choices and        |
|       | prohibit advertising/marketing of "less healthy" food and    |
|       | beverages); or state requires districts or schools to        |
|       | develop and adopt a standard for commercial                  |
|       | advertising/promotion of food or beverages. State prohibits  |
|       | all advertising associated with instruction.                 |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **1** | State recommends a standard for nutrition-based marketing of |
|       | food and beverages to students during the school day.        |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **0** | No provision.                                                |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Tra | [Potential enhancement factor:]{.underline} applies if a     |
| cking | state addresses the use of commercial food products (through |
| v     | coupon, incentives or other means) as a reward for school    |
| ariab | achievement.                                                 |
| les** |                                                              |
|       | [Potential inhibiting facto]{.underline}r: applies if a      |
|       | state explicitly permits commercial advertising / promotion  |
|       | for food and beverages that may not conform to the federal   |
|       | dietary guidelines^3^ (e.g. State permits commercial         |
|       | advertisement on protective book covers).                    |
+-------+--------------------------------------------------------------+

**Marketing: Preferential Pricing**

  ------------ -----------------------------------------------------------
  **Score**    **Description**

  **4**        State mandates preferential pricing, applicable to multiple
               settings, to promote nutrient-dense food or beverages
               choices (e.g., preferential pricing of fruits and
               vegetables wherever sold or served in school).

  **3**        State mandates preferential pricing, applicable to a single
               setting or food group to promote nutrient-dense food or
               beverages choices (e.g., vending prices may not favor
               carbonated beverages over water or 100% fruit juice).

  **2**        State mandates a general requirement for preferential
               pricing (e.g., districts or schools shall promote healthy
               foods through preferential pricing); or State requires
               districts or schools to develop and adopt a policy related
               to preferential pricing for nutrient-dense food and
               beverages,

  **1**        State recommends preferential pricing to promote
               nutrient-dense food or beverage choices.

  **0**        No provision.

  **Tracking   [Potential enhancement factor]{.underline}: applies if
  variable**   state addresses placement of food or beverages to promote
               nutrient-dense food and beverage choices\* (e.g., fruits
               and vegetables should be offered at all points of service).
  ------------ -----------------------------------------------------------

**Body Mass Index (BMI) Screening**

+---------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| **      | **Description**                                            |
| Score** |                                                            |
+---------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| **3**   | State mandates that schools perform annual BMI screening   |
|         | of all students (if not exempted by parents).              |
+---------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| **2**   | State mandates that schools perform BMI screening of       |
|         | students in fewer than all grade levels (if not exempted   |
|         | by parents).                                               |
+---------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| **1**   | State recommends or explicitly permits student screening   |
|         | for BMI.                                                   |
+---------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| **0**   | No provision.                                              |
+---------+------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Tra   | [Potential enhancement factor]{.underline}: applies if     |
| cking** | state addresses required procedures for BMI screening      |
|         | (e.g., State requires schools to develop rules for         |
| **vari  | screening, including use of CDC's EPI-info computer        |
| ables** | program).                                                  |
|         |                                                            |
|         | [Potential enhancement factor:]{.underline} applies if     |
|         | state addresses required procedures for notification to    |
|         | parents and referral (e.g., State requires schools to      |
|         | develop rules to ensure confidentiality/privacy and        |
|         | referrals to health care system).                          |
|         |                                                            |
|         | [Potential enhancement factor:]{.underline} applies if     |
|         | state-wide agency is authorized to establish a             |
|         | surveillance system to track childhood overweight data.    |
+---------+------------------------------------------------------------+

[^1]: **References**

    ^?^ USDA (United States Department of Agriculture). National School
    Lunch Program: foods sold in competition with USDA school meal
    programs. A report to Congress, 2001. Washington, D.C.: USDA;2001.
    \[cited 2006 Sept 25\]. Available from:
    <http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/competitivefoods/report_congress.htm>.

[^2]: GAO (Government Accounting Office). School Meal Programs:
    Competitive Foods are Widely Available and Generate Substantial
    Revenues for Schools. GAO-05-563. Washington, DC: GAO; 2005.

[^3]: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and (USDA) U.S.
    Department of Agriculture. Dietary guidelines for Americans*.* 2005
    Jan \[cited 2005 Feb 3\]. Available from:
    <http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/>.

[^4]: School Breakfast Program, 7 C.F.R. 220.12 (2005). Available from:
    http://[www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_05/7cfrv4_05.html](http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_05/7cfrv4_05.html).

[^5]: National School Lunch Program, 7 C.F.R. 210.11 and 7 C.F.R. 210
    (Appendix B) (2005). Available from:
    <http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/menu/fmnv.htm>