title: Little association between wellness policies and school-reported nutrition practices.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 mandated written school wellness policies. Little evidence exists to evaluate the impact of such policies. This study assessed the quality (comprehensiveness of topics addressed and strength of wording) of wellness policies and the agreement between written district-level policies and school-reported nutrition policies and practices in 48 low-income Michigan school districts participating in the School Nutrition Advances Kids study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Written wellness policy quality was assessed using the School Wellness Policy Evaluation Tool. School nutrition policies and practices were assessed using the School Environment and Policy Survey. Analysis of variance determined differences in policy quality, and Fisher's exact test examined agreement between written policies and school-reported practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Written wellness policies contained ambiguous language and addressed few practices, indicating low comprehensiveness and strength. Most districts adopted model wellness policy templates without modification, and the template used was the primary determinant of policy quality. Written wellness policies often did not reflect school-reported nutrition policies and practices.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  School health advocates should avoid assumptions that written wellness policies accurately reflect school practices. Encouraging policy template customization and stronger, more specific language may enhance wellness policy quality, ensure consistency between policy and practice, and enhance implementation of school nutrition initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA lucarell@oakland.edu.
authors.forename: Jennifer F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lucarelli
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alaimo
authors.affiliation: Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Belansky
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mang
authors.affiliation: Seminole County Public Schools, Sanford, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Deanne K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.affiliation: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Michigan Department of Education, School Nutrition Programs Unit, Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Drzal
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005509:Food Dispensers, Automatic; D005522:Food Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008824:Michigan; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: coordinated school health programs; nutrition; school health