NASBE selects four states to receive grants to fight childhood obesity in their public schools

National Association of State Boards of EducationFeb 17 2010

The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) as part of its Leadership for Healthy Communities (LHC) national program, will select four states to receive grants this spring to help them develop policies to fight childhood obesity in their public schools. The Feb. 16 request for proposals (RFP) from state boards of education coincides with the renewal of NASBE’s obesity prevention initiative supported by the RWJF as part of its Leadership for Healthy Communities national program.

“As NASBE continues its relationship with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we look forward to the opportunity to help states define and hone policies and strategies to combat childhood obesity through their schools.”

The announcement of NASBE’s RFP for state boards of education follows last week’s launch of First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign to combat childhood obesity. NASBE will award grants of $15,000 each to four state boards of education to adopt, strengthen or implement policies that help increase healthy eating and physical activity in schools. NASBE will also provide capacity building assistance to support obesity prevention to all state boards and policymakers and work to raise awareness among national and federal policymakers of state obesity policies and initiatives

“There is a growing body of research telling us that children who are obese have greater absentee rates and lower academic achievement, along with all the other health complications,” said NASBE Executive Director Brenda Welburn. “As NASBE continues its relationship with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we look forward to the opportunity to help states define and hone policies and strategies to combat childhood obesity through their schools.”

NASBE’s goal for the Obesity Prevention project is to help state boards develop the most effective policies to support high-quality health education and healthy school environments for all children, with a special emphasis on children in low-income communities.

During the grant period, NASBE will address how state boards can:

• improve the quality of school food;
• increase students’ physical activity;
• restrict food and beverage marketing to students; and
• strengthen health education standards and requirements.