TITLE III—PROMOTING NUTRI-
TION 
QUALITY 
AND 
PRE-
VENTING 
CHILDHOOD 
OBE-
SITY 
SEC. 301. LOCAL SCHOOL WELLNESS POLICY. 
Not later than the first day of the school year begin-
ning after June 30, 2006, local educational agencies par-
ticipating in the programs authorized by the Richard B. 
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) 
and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et 
seq.) shall establish a local school wellness policy for such 
local agency that at a minimum—
(1) includes goals for nutrition education, phys-
ical activity and other school-based activities designed 
to promote student wellness that the local educational 
agency determines are appropriate; 
(2) includes nutrition guidelines selected by the 
local educational agencies for all foods available on 
school campus during the school day with the objec-
tive of promoting student health and reducing child-
hood obesity; 
(3) provides an assurance that guidelines for re-
imbursable school meals shall not be less restrictive 
than regulations and guidance issued by the Sec-
retary pursuant to section 10(a) and (b) of the Child
Nutrition Act (42 U.S.C. 1779(a) and (b)) and sec-
tion 9(f)(1) and section 17(a) of the Richard B. Rus-
sell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1758(f)(1) 
and 1766(a)), as those regulations and guidance 
apply to schools; 
(4) establishes a plan for ensuring implementa-
tion of the local wellness policy, including designation 
of a person or persons within the local educational 
agency, or at each school as appropriate, charged 
with operational responsibility for ensuring that such 
school meets the local wellness policy; and 
(5) involves parents, students, representatives of 
the school food authority, the school board, school ad-
ministrators, and public in the development of the 
school wellness policy. 
SEC. 302. SUPPORTING NUTRITION EDUCATION, IMPROV-
ING MEAL QUALITY, AND ACCESS TO LOCAL 
FOODS. 
Section 19 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 
U.S.C. 1788) is amended—
(1) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(b) PURPOSE.—It is the purpose of this section to 
support effective nutrition education through assistance to 
State agencies, schools, and nonprofit entities for Team Nu-
trition and other nutrition education projects that improve 
student understanding of healthful eating patterns, includ-
ing an awareness and understanding of the Dietary Guide-
lines for Americans, the quality of school meals and access 
to local foods in schools and institutions operating pro-
grams under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) and section 4 of this Act.’’; 
(2) by striking subsections (c) through (h) and 
inserting after subsection (b) the following: 
‘‘(c) TEAM NUTRITION NETWORK.—
‘‘(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Team Nutri-
tion Network is to—
‘‘(A) promote the nutritional health of the 
Nation’s school children through nutrition edu-
cation, physical activity and other activities that 
support healthy lifestyles for children based on 
the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued 
jointly by the Secretary of Agriculture and the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, and 
the physical fitness guidelines issued by the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services; 
‘‘(B) provide assistance to States for the de-
velopment of State-wide, comprehensive, and in-
tegrated nutrition education and physical fitness 
programs; and
‘‘(C) provide training and technical assist-
ance to States, school and community nutrition 
programs, and child nutrition food service pro-
fessionals. 
‘‘(2) STATE
COORDINATOR.—The State Team 
Nutrition Network Coordinator shall—
‘‘(A) administer and coordinate a com-
prehensive integrated statewide nutrition edu-
cation program; and 
‘‘(B) coordinate efforts with the Food and 
Nutrition Service and State agencies responsible 
for children’s health programs. 
‘‘(3) TEAM NUTRITION NETWORK.—Subject to the 
availability or appropriations to carry out this sub-
section, the Secretary, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of Education, shall, on a competitive basis, 
provide assistance to States for the purpose of cre-
ating model nutrition education and physical activity 
programs, consistent with current dietary and fitness 
guidelines, for students in elementary schools and sec-
ondary schools. 
‘‘(4) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
STATE
PARTICIPA-
TION.—To be eligible to receive assistance under this 
subsection, a State Coordinator shall submit an ap-
plication to the Secretary at such time, and in such
manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require, including—
‘‘(A) a description of how the proposed nu-
trition and physical activity program will pro-
mote healthy eating and physical activity and 
fitness and address the health and social con-
sequences of children who are at risk of becoming 
overweight or obese; 
‘‘(B) information describing how nutrition 
activities are to be coordinated at the State level 
with other health activities conducted by edu-
cation, health and agriculture agencies; 
‘‘(C) information describing how initiatives 
to promote physical activity are to be coordi-
nated at the State level with other initiatives to 
promote physical activity conducted by edu-
cation, health, and parks and recreation agen-
cies; 
‘‘(D) a description of the consultative proc-
ess that the State Coordinator employed in the 
development of the model nutrition and physical 
activity programs, including consultations with 
individuals and organizations with expertise in 
promoting public health, nutrition, or physical 
activity, and organizations representing the ag-
riculture, food and beverage, fitness, and sports 
and recreation industries; 
‘‘(E) a description of how the State Coordi-
nator will evaluate the effectiveness of its pro-
gram; and
‘‘(F) a description of how any and all com-
munications to parents and guardians of all stu-
dents who are members of a household receiving 
or applying for assistance under the program 
shall be in an understandable and uniform for-
mat, and, to the extent practicable, in a lan-
guage that parents can understand. 
‘‘(5) DURATION.—Subject to the availability of 
funds made available to carry out this subsection, a 
State Coordinator shall conduct the project for a pe-
riod of 3 successive school years. 
‘‘(6) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—An eligible ap-
plicant that receives assistance under this subsection 
may use funds to carry out one or more of the fol-
lowing activities—
‘‘(A) collecting, analyzing, and dissemi-
nating data regarding the extent to which chil-
dren and youth in the State are overweight or 
physically inactive and the programs and serv-
ices available to meet those needs;
‘‘(B) developing and implementing model 
elementary and secondary education curricula to 
create a comprehensive, coordinated nutrition 
and physical fitness awareness and obesity pre-
vention program; 
‘‘(C) developing and implementing pilot 
programs in schools to increase physical activity 
and to enhance the nutritional status of students, 
including through the increased consumption of 
fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lowfat 
dairy products; 
‘‘(D) developing and implementing State 
guidelines in health, which include nutrition 
education, and physical education and empha-
size regular physical activity during school 
hours; 
‘‘(E) collaborating with community based 
organizations, volunteer organizations, State 
medical associations, and public health groups to 
develop and implement nutrition and physical 
education programs targeting lower income chil-
dren, ethnic minorities, and youth at a greater 
risk for obesity; 
‘‘(F) collaborating with public or private 
organizations that have as a mission the raising
of public awareness of the importance of a bal-
anced diet and an active lifestyle; and 
‘‘(G) providing training and technical as-
sistance to teachers and school food service pro-
fessionals consistent with the purpose of this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(7) LIMITATION.—Materials prepared under 
this subsection regarding agricultural commodities, 
food, or beverages must be factual and without bias. 
‘‘(8) REPORT.—Within 18 months of completion 
of the projects and the evaluations, the Secretary shall 
submit to the Committee on Education and the Work-
force of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion and Forestry of the Senate a report describing 
the results of the evaluation of the demonstration pro-
grams and shall make such reports available to the 
public, including through the Internet. 
‘‘(9) INDEPENDENT EVALUATION.—
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
enter into an agreement with an independent, 
non-partisan science-based research organization 
to conduct a comprehensive independent evalua-
tion of the effectiveness of the Team Nutrition
initiative and the Team Nutrition Network au-
thorized by this subsection and to identify best 
practices in—
‘‘(i) improving student understanding 
of healthful eating patterns; 
‘‘(ii) engaging students in regular 
physical activity and improving physical 
fitness; 
‘‘(iii) reducing diabetes and obesity 
rates in school children; 
‘‘(iv) improving student nutrition be-
haviors on the school campus including 
healthier meal choices evidenced by greater 
inclusion of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, 
and lean dairy and protein in meal and 
snack selections; 
‘‘(v) providing training and technical 
assistance for food service professionals re-
sulting in the availability of healthy meals 
that appeal to ethnic and cultural taste 
preferences; 
‘‘(vi) linking meals programs to nutri-
tion education activities; and 
‘‘(vii) successfully involving school ad-
ministrators, the private sector, public
health agencies, non-profit organizations, 
and other community partners. 
‘‘(B) REPORT.—Not later than October 1, 
2007, the Secretary shall transmit the findings of 
the independent evaluation to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee on Health, Edu-
cation, Labor, and Pensions and the Committee 
on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate. 
‘‘(d) LOCAL NUTRITION
AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY 
PROJECT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to the availability of 
appropriations to carry out this subsection, the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the Secretary of Edu-
cation, shall provide assistance to not more than 100 
local educational agencies, at least one per State, for 
the establishment of pilot projects for purposes of pro-
moting healthy eating habits and increasing physical 
activity, consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for 
Americans issued jointly by the Secretary of Agri-
culture and the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, among elementary and secondary education 
students.
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENT
FOR
PARTICIPATION
IN 
PILOT PROJECT.—To be eligible to receive assistance 
under this subsection, a local educational agency 
shall, in consultation with individuals who possess 
education or experience appropriate for representing 
the general field of public health, including nutrition 
and fitness professionals, submit to the Secretary an 
application that shall include—
‘‘(A) a description of the local educational 
agency’s need for nutrition and physical activity 
programs; 
‘‘(B) a description of how the proposed 
project will improve health and nutrition 
through education and increased access to phys-
ical activity; 
‘‘(C) a description of how funds under this 
subsection will be coordinated with other pro-
grams under this Act, the Richard B. Russell 
National School Lunch Act, or other Acts, as ap-
propriate, to improve student health and nutri-
tion; 
‘‘(D) a statement of the local educational 
agency’s measurable goals for nutrition and 
physical education programs and promotion;
‘‘(E) a description of how the proposed 
project will be aligned with the local wellness 
policy required under the Act;
‘‘(F) a description of the procedures the 
agency will use for assessing and publicly report-
ing progress toward meeting those goals; and 
‘‘(G) a description of how communications 
to parents and guardians of participating stu-
dents regarding the activities under this sub-
section shall be in an understandable and uni-
form format, and, to the extent practicable, in a 
language that parents can understand. 
‘‘(3) DURATION.—Subject to the availability of 
funds made available to carry out this subsection, a 
local educational agency receiving assistance under 
this subsection shall conduct the project during a pe-
riod of 3 successive school years. 
‘‘(4) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—An eligible ap-
plicant that receives assistance under this sub-
section—
‘‘(A) shall use funds provided to—
‘‘(i) promote healthy eating through 
the development and implementation of nu-
trition education programs and curricula
based on the Dietary Guidelines for Ameri-
cans; and 
‘‘(ii) increase opportunities for phys-
ical activity through after school programs, 
athletics, intramural activities, and recess; 
and 
‘‘(B) may use funds provided to—
‘‘(i) educate parents and students 
about the relationship of a poor diet and in-
activity to obesity and other health prob-
lems; 
‘‘(ii) develop and implement physical 
education programs that promote fitness 
and lifelong activity; 
‘‘(iii) provide training and technical 
assistance to food service professionals to de-
velop nutritious, more appealing menus and 
recipes; 
‘‘(iv) incorporate nutrition education 
into physical education, health education, 
and after school programs, including ath-
letics; 
‘‘(v) involve parents, nutrition profes-
sionals, food service staff, educators, com-
munity leaders, and other interested parties