Community and Behavioral Health, Associate Director, Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado Denver, 13001 East 17th Place, Campus Box C-245, Aurora, CO 80045. E-mail:
Prev Chronic Dis. 2013 Nov 7;10:E184. doi: 10.5888/pcd10.130002.
The federally mandated Local Wellness Policy (LWP) was intended to promote student health in schools. This study assesses the 5-year effects of the LWP on the health practices of rural elementary schools in Colorado.
One year before and 5 years after the LWP mandate, a survey was administered to a random sample of principals, physical education (PE) teachers, and food-service managers in 45 rural, low-income elementary schools in Colorado. Response rates were 71% in 2005 and 89% in 2011.
Minutes for PE and recess did not increase, nor did offerings of fresh fruits and vegetables. More schools adopted policies prohibiting teachers from taking recess away as punishment (9.7% in 2005 vs 38.5% in 2011, P = .02) or for making up missed instructional time, class work, or tests in other subjects (3.2% in 2005 vs 28.2% in 2011, P = .03). More schools scheduled recess before lunch (22.6% in 2005 vs 46.2% in 2011, P = .04) and developed policies for vending machines (42.9% in 2005 vs 85.7% in 2011, P = .01) and parties (21.4% in 2005 vs 57.9% in 2011, P = .004).
Changes in school practices are modest, and arguably the important school practices such as increased PE and recess time and increased offerings of fruits and vegetables in the lunch line have not changed in the 5 years since the mandate went into effect. Further investigation is needed to identify the knowledge, skills, and attitudes as well as financial and physical resources required for school administrators to make changes in school practices.
联邦授权的地方健康政策（LWP）旨在促进学校学生的健康。本研究评估了 LWP 对科罗拉多州农村小学健康实践的 5 年影响。
在 LWP 授权实施前一年和 5 年后，对科罗拉多州 45 所农村低收入小学的校长、体育（PE）教师和餐饮经理进行了随机抽样调查。2005 年的回复率为 71%，2011 年的回复率为 89%。
体育课和课间休息时间没有增加，新鲜水果和蔬菜的供应也没有增加。更多的学校通过了禁止教师以惩罚（2005 年为 9.7%，2011 年为 38.5%，P =.02）或弥补错过的教学时间、课程作业或其他科目考试（2005 年为 3.2%，2011 年为 28.2%，P =.03）剥夺学生课间休息时间的政策。更多的学校安排在午餐前进行课间休息（2005 年为 22.6%，2011 年为 46.2%，P =.04），并为自动售货机（2005 年为 42.9%，2011 年为 85.7%，P =.01）和派对（2005 年为 21.4%，2011 年为 57.9%，P =.004）制定了政策。
学校实践的变化是适度的，可以说，自授权生效以来的 5 年里，重要的学校实践，如增加体育课和课间休息时间以及增加午餐时水果和蔬菜的供应，并没有改变。需要进一步调查，以确定学校管理人员在改变学校实践中所需的知识、技能和态度以及财务和物质资源。
