laws & regulations
Following are state and federal laws and regulations that govern school wellness policies and
provide standards for nutrition, physical education and physical activity in Rhode Island schools.
provide standards for nutrition, physical education and physical activity in Rhode Island schools.
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Federal Laws & RegulationsThese laws/regulations apply to ALL RI schools (public/charter/independent/parochial) that participate in the USDA reimbursable school meals program.
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Local School Wellness Policy Regulation
Regulation included in the Child Nutrition and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act passed by Congress in 2004 requiring each local educational agency that participates in the National School Lunch Program or other federal Child Nutrition programs to establish a local school/district wellness policy by the 2006-2007 school year.
Local School Wellness Policy Additional Provisions
Additional provisions included in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed by Congress in 2010 requiring each local educational agency that participates in the National School Lunch Program or other federal Child Nutrition programs to establish a local school/district wellness policy by the 2006-2007 school year.
USDA Competitive Foods/Beverages Nutrition Standards
("Smart Snacks in Schools")
("Smart Snacks in Schools")
Regulation updating nutrition standards for all foods/beverages sold outside of the federal meals program starting in school year 2014-2015
USDA School Meals Nutrition Standards
Regulation addressing nutrition standards for the reimbursable federal meals program.
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State Laws & RegulationsThese laws/regulations apply to ALL RI public/charter schools and schools under the control or management of the State of RI.
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School Lunch Law
Law passed by the RI General Assembly in 1947 requiring all RI public schools to make a lunch program available to students.
School Breakfast Law
Law passed by the RI General Assembly in 1998 requiring all RI public schools to make a breakfast program available to students.
School Wellness Subcommittee Law
Law passed by the RI General Assembly in 2005 requiring all RI districts to establish a wellness committee as a sub-committee of the full school committee.
Competitive Foods and Beverages Law
Law passed by the RI General Assembly in 2006/07 requiring all RI schools to sell ONLY healthier snacks and beverages outside of the federal reimbursable meals program (including vending, fundraising, school stores and other sales before, during and one hour after the school day). Update to law in 2016 to align RI nutrition standards with new federal nutrition standards while preserving stronger state provisions for caffeine and artificial sweetener ban.
See USDA Smart Snacks in Schools and RI Nutrition Requirements.
See USDA Smart Snacks in Schools and RI Nutrition Requirements.
Dating Violence Education – Lindsay Ann Burke Act
Law passed by the RI General Assembly in 2007 requiring all RI public middle and high schools to teach students about how to recognize and avoid dating violence.
RI Nutrition Requirements for School Meals and Competitive Foods
Criteria first approved by the RI Board of Education in 2009 to add additional nutrition requirements for school meals and prohibit sales of competitive foods/beverages in elementary schools. In 2016, these standards were aligned with strengthened USDA meal nutrition standards, while preserving a stronger state whole grain requirement, fruit/vegetables offerings and ban on artificial sweeteners and caffeine.
Physical Education Law
Law passed by the RI General Assembly in 2012 that requires all school PE program curriculum be based on the standards of the RI Physical Education Framework (in addition to average 20 minutes/day instruction in PE/Health for students in grades 1 – 12).
RI Physical Education Framework
RI Physical Education Framework
Recess Law
Law passed by the RI General Assembly in 2016 requiring any RI public school that has elementary grades K – 6 to offer students daily supervised, safe and unstructured free play recess for 20 consecutive minutes each day.
Healthy School Foods/Beverage Marketing Law
Law passed by the RI General Assembly in 2018 that prohibits the advertising and marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages in schools that do not meet minimum federal/state nutrition standards.
Health Education Framework and Regulations
Three documents dictate health education standards, requirements and educational outcomes in RI for grades K-12.
Health education curriculum must be aligned with:
Rhode Island Curriculum Framework for Health Education K-12
Comprehensive Health Instructional Outcomes
Specific requirements for health education are outlined here:
Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs
Health education curriculum must be aligned with:
Rhode Island Curriculum Framework for Health Education K-12
Comprehensive Health Instructional Outcomes
Specific requirements for health education are outlined here:
Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs
School Recycling & Food Waste
Law passed by the RI General Assembly in 2021 that requires schools to comply with recycling and composting laws and promote the donation of unspoiled nonperishable food and the use of share tables.
Suicide Prevention Awareness – Nathan Bruno & Jason Flatt Act
Law passed by the RI General Assembly in 2021 that requires all school personnel, including teachers, teaching assistants, administrators, custodians, food service, substitutes, nurses, coaches and coaching staff, to be trained in suicide prevention and awareness.
2021: RI General Assembly passes “Suicide Prevention Awareness – Nathan Bruno & Jason Flatt Act” requiring all school personnel to be trained in suicide prevention and awareness.
2021: RI General Assembly passes “School Recycling & Food Waste Act” requiringing schools to comply with recycling and composting laws and promote the donation of unspoiled nonperishable food and the use of share tables.
2018: RI General Assembly passes law prohibiting the advertising and marketing of unhealthy food and beverages in schools
2016: RI General Assembly updates “Healthier Beverage & Snack” Competitive Foods/Beverages Law to align with federal USDA “Smart Snacks in Schools” nutrition standards and RI Board of Education codifies RI Nutrition Standards for school meals and competitive foods/beverages.
2016: RI General Assembly passes “Recess Law” requiring 20 consecutive minutes of free-play recess each school day in elementary school.
2010: Federal Child Nutrition Reauthorization (Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act) establishes further requirements for local wellness policies in addition to new nutrition standards for school meals.
2009: RI Board of Regents establishes nutrition criteria for reimbursable school meals and a la carte snacks (RINR).
2007: RI General Assembly passes "Dating Violence Education – Lindsay Ann Burke Act", requiring all RI public middle and high schools to teach students about how to recognize and avoid dating violence.
2006/2007: RI General Assembly passes "Competitive Foods & Beverages Law" specifying healthier nutrition criteria for items sold as competitive foods in the cafeterias, vending machines and school stores.
2006: RI Healthy Schools Coalition develops "Model Policy Language" for use as a template for district policy writers. RI Healthy Schools Coalition develops "RI Nutrition Guidelines for School Vending & A La Carte Foods". Both receive endorsement by the RI Board of Regents and the RI Department of Health.
2005: RI General Assembly passes new law in accordance with the federal law of 2004 requiring the establishment of district wellness committees, as subcommittees of the full school committee/board.
2004: Federal Child Nutrition & WIC Reauthorization - requires schools with federally funded meal programs to establish local wellness policies by 2006 school year.
1998: RI General Assembly passes a law requiring all RI public schools to make a breakfast program, in addition to the lunch program, available to students.
1947: RI General Assembly passes a law requiring all RI public schools to make a lunch program available to students.