Unhealthy school lunches and a lack of physical activity might top parents’ list of concerns, but few are consistently involved in their children’s schools’ wellness programs, education advocates found.
“There is obviously room for improvement there, and I think it’s an opportunity,” said Dr. David Satcher, former U.S. surgeon general and founder of Action for Healthy Kids, an advocacy organization that released a progress report this week on school wellness programs.
Fewer than one in four parents spoke with teachers and administrators about improving the school’s policies, the report found.
Parents need more information on how to get involved, and administrators struggle with competing priorities and time, according to the report.
Satcher recognized not all parents could participate in the same way, but the organization was encouraged by their interest in their children’s health.
“We have to take parents at their word that they want to be more involved,” Satcher said in a conference call.
Three years ago, a federal mandate directed school districts to implement wellness policies that encompassed nutrition and physical activity.
Maryland Department of Education spokesman Bill Reinhard said all of the state’s school systems are in compliance with the law, and officials are planning a conference on the topic for January.
Nationwide, it’s been a mixed bag. Although many districts have made great strides, gaps still exist in implementing policies and providing access to healthy food and activities.
For example, many schools have eliminated junk food from vending machines, but more needs to be done to provide fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy at lunch, researchers found.
Parents and physical education teachers agreed schools could do a better job at offering physical education.
“There is progress being made, and there is much more being done,” Satcher said.
For more on this report, visit actionforhealthykids.org.
