HSC Policy Initiatives

Healthy Schools Campaign works to promote policies at the federal, state, local and school levels to ensure that all children have access to a healthy school environment. By raising awareness of school health among key stakeholders, our programs help build a base for effective advocacy on school environmental health and wellness.

Interested in raising your voice for sensible school health policies? Visit Take Action to learn about current opportunities to get involved in HSC’s policy efforts.

Currently, HSC’s policy work focuses on:

National Policy for Healthy Schools

One of the greatest challenges facing our national leaders is to provide a high-quality education and healthy environment for all students. As President Obama and Secretary of Education Duncan bring the lessons they’ve learned in Chicago to the national education dialogue, leaders in health and education are looking to Chicago schools for lessons that may shape national policy. At Healthy Schools Campaign, we would like to share several Chicago experiences that can offer valuable lessons for national school health policy. You can read the report outlining these lessons and sign on as a supporter of national policy for healthy schools.

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Child Nutrition Act Reauthorization

The Child Nutrition Act – a major piece of federal legislation that helps determine school food policy and resources – begins reauthorization in 2009. This reauthorization offers a tremendous opportunity to create a future for school food in which fresh, healthy meals are the norm and all children have access to the type of comprehensive nutrition education that creates healthy habits for a lifetime.

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Green Clean Schools State Legislation

Healthy Schools Campaign brought together the coalition that successfully advocated for legislation requiring green cleaning in all Illinois schools, and works with leaders throughout the state to implement the requirement. Building on this success, HSC convened the Green Clean Schools National Summit to connect state-level coalitions that will advocate for health-promoting green clean schools laws around the U.S., and provides ongoing support to these coalitions.

Learn more about the Illinois law at www.greencleanillinois.org.
Learn more about national efforts at www.greencleanschools.org.