April 20, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: V. David Zvenyach
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COUNCILMEMBER CHEH’S HEALTHY SCHOOLS ACT UNANIMOUSLY PASSES COUNCIL COMMITTEES AND FIRST READING

HAILED BY EXPERTS, THE COMPREHENSIVE BILL WOULD IMPROVE HEALTH, WELLNESS, AND NUTRITION IN SCHOOLS

(Washington, DC) Councilmember Mary M. Cheh’s (Ward 3) Healthy Schools Act was unanimously approved by the Council on its first reading today. The final vote on this landmark legislation is scheduled for May 4.

“We have the highest rate of adolescent obesity in the nation – half of the children in some neighborhoods are overweight or obese,” said Councilmember Cheh. “The Healthy Schools Act is a sweeping reform that will substantially improve the health, wellness, and nutrition of public and charter school students in the District.”

This comprehensive legislation will improve the quality of school meals by adopting new nutritional standards from the USDA and the Institute of Medicine and increasing funding for school meals. The bill establishes a farm-to-school incentive program to bring more fresh, local fruits and vegetables to schools.

“Two out of every five District households with children say they were unable to afford enough food for their families last year,” said Alexandra Ashbrook, Director, DC Hunger Solutions. “By supporting access to healthy school meals, the Healthy Schools Act will help struggling families and ensure that all children get the nutritious food they need to learn, stay healthy, and ultimately thrive. The bill also will help move us closer to achieving President Barack Obama’s goal to end childhood hunger by 2015 and the goals of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign.”

The Healthy Schools Act will also more than triple the amount of physical activity in schools by adopting the national standards for physical and health education. The legislation will also establish recycling, energy reduction, school gardens, and other environmental programs, and expand health programs in schools.

“The American Heart Association commends the DC City Council for today’s important step toward passage of the DC Healthy Schools Act, which incorporates AHA’s national recommendations of 150 minutes per week of physical education for elementary school students and 225 minutes per week for middle school students,” said Dr. Eric Aldrich, president of the American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Affiliate. “Physical education not only gives children an opportunity to be active but it teaches them the skills they need to be active throughout their lifetime. Investing in quality physical education in all schools for all grades is a logical and important step toward reducing childhood obesity and improving the health of the next generation.”

“When children are at school, they are in our care,” said Councilmember Cheh. “We have the responsibility to ensure that they have a healthy, clean, and safe environment. This legislation would put us at the forefront of school health, wellness, and physical activity requirements.”

The Healthy Schools Act is supported by DCPS Chancellor Michelle Rhee, State Superintendent of Education Kerri Briggs, dozens of community organizations, parents, teachers, and students. More than 350 stakeholders, including 100 students, participated in the transparent, inclusive process that crafted this critically important legislation.

For more information, visit: http://healthyschools.marycheh.com.

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