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October 29, 2013

Dear Colleague,



As  the school year gets under way, we would like to thank you for all of the efforts that you and your staff are making to ensure a healthy nutrition  environment in schools.  Your ongoing  efforts to implement the new school meals nutrition  standards are enhancing the health and nutrition of our nation’s children in schools  across the country.

We  would also like to take this opportunity to brief you on another critical  element of our joint efforts to promote a healthy school environment and to  request your support.  In order to  implement additional mandates by the Healthy,  Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently published  the "Smart Snacks in School" standards for all foods sold  in school outside the school meals programs.   These are practical, science-based standards for foods sold in vending  machines and à la carte lines — standards that make the healthy choice the easy  choice for students.

Highlights  of the "Smart Snacks in School" nutrition standards include:

- *More of the foods we should encourage.*  Like the new school  meals, the standards require healthier foods, including more whole grains;  low-fat dairy products; fruits and vegetables; and leaner protein.
- *Less of the foods we should avoid.*  The standards  require food items that are lower in fat, sugar, and  sodium and provide more of the nutrients children need.
- *Targeted standards.*  The standards allow variation by age group  for factors such as portion size and caffeine content.
- *Flexibility for important traditions.*  Parents may still  send their children to school with homemade lunches, or treats for activities  such as birthday parties, holidays, and other celebrations, and schools can  continue traditions such as fund-raisers and bake sales.
- *Reasonable limitations on when and where the standards  apply.*   Standards affect only foods that are sold on the school campus during  the school day.  Foods sold at  after-school sports events or other activities will not be subject to these  requirements.
- *Flexibility for State and local communities.*  The standards allow  for significant local and regional autonomy by establishing only minimum  requirements for schools.  States and  schools that have stronger standards will be able to maintain their own  policies.

Since  the new standards become effective in the 2014-15 school year, schools have  ample time to make any changes that the standards require.  A team approach will be very important, as successful  implementation will require support not only from school nutrition personnel  but also school administrators, sports teams, clubs, and others involved in  food sales.  USDA will support your  efforts with training and technical assistance.

More  specifically, we suggest that you:

- *Reach out  to**your school district leadership* to discuss the  new standards and ensure that the leadership team understands that the  standards will affect all venues in which foods are sold in your schools,  including the cafeteria, vending machines, school stores, etc. (but not  including food related to the school lunch program).  Compliance with the new standards is not  limited to foods sold by school food service and so is likely to impact other  members of the school community, potentially including school administrators,  sports teams, clubs, and parent organizations.
- *Plan  procurement activities accordingly.*****In many cases, food purchasing  activities for the next school year begin this year.  Please ensure that purchasing plans reflect the  new standards and that any needed revisions in light of product specifications  and other procurement procedures are addressed.   In addition, school districts should consult with their State education  agencies regarding State guidance on food fund-raiser policies.
- *Develop a  plan for ensuring compliance in the coming year.*  The plan should include  all those involved in food sales and should identify appropriate roles and  responsibilities for implementing the new standards.
- *Communicate  widely about the new standards.*****This is an opportune time to develop a communications plan  for conveying the upcoming changes to students, parents, school organizations,  and school staff.  A key component of  such a plan will be communicating to your school leadership and the community  at large the many ways in which these changes will positively benefit our  schoolchildren.  Your messaging can  publicize that the revised meal pattern changes coupled with new snack  standards will support students in developing a lifelong habit of healthier  food choices.  Recent research indicates  that a large majority of parents support nutrition standards for snacks sold in  schools.

As a  result of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, America's students now  have healthier and more nutritious school meals.  With the addition of "Smart Snacks in School," students will have healthier choices available wherever food is sold to them at  school.  The Act supports healthier students  and staff through stronger local school wellness policies as well as the development  of strong professional standards and training resources for school nutrition  personnel.  These policies must address  nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities to  promote student wellness.  Specific  information on USDA's local school wellness policies, including implementation  guidelines, examples of model policy language, and links to related resources,  can be found on the USDA Web site.  This will also be the future site for USDA's proposed school wellness policy regulation.

We also encourage you to learn  about and share information on related federal activities.  The Department of Education's Carol M. White  Physical Education Program (PEP) grants promote innovative educational  approaches to nutrition education and helping more students meet their State  standards for physical education with the ultimate goal of teaching children  about the value of lifelong physical activity and healthy eating.  PEP grant activities must support and  complement USDA-required local wellness policies.  The Green Ribbon Schools recognition award  honors schools and districts that, among other activities, are exemplary in  improving the health and wellness of students and staff.  Finally, *Let's Move!* is a comprehensive federal initiative dedicated to solving the problem of  obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier.  As well as promoting increased physical  activity, the initiative offers parents and educators tools, support, and  information they need to instill healthy eating habits in children that will  last a lifetime.

We appreciate your continuing dedication to creating a  healthy school environment and improving children's health.  Thank you for your attention to this critically important issue.

Sincerely,



|/s/
Thomas J. Vilsack
Secretary of Agriculture | /s/
Arne Duncan
Secretary of Education
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