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.  

Federal Laws & Regulations 

​These laws/regulations apply to ALL RI schools (public/charter/independent/parochial) that participate ​in the USDA reimbursable school meals program.
​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") 
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. 

State Laws & Regulations

​These laws/regulations apply to ALL RI public/charter schools and schools under the control or management ​of the State of RI.
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 2007/08 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.
​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
​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:
Health Literacy for All Students: The Rhode Island Health Education Framework
Comprehensive Health Instructional Outcomes

Specific requirements for health education are outlined here:
Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs
1947: RI General Assembly passes a law requiring all RI public schools to make a lunch program available to students.
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.
​2004: Federal Child Nutrition & WIC Reauthorization - requires schools with federally funded meal programs to establish local wellness policies by 2006 school year.
​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.
​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.
​2006/2007: RI General Assembly passes "Healthier Beverage & Snack Law" specifying nutrition criteria for items sold as competitive foods in the cafeterias, vending machines and school stores.
​2008: RI General Assembly passes "PE Law", effective September 2012, requiring standards-based school physical education curriculum.
​2009:  RI Board of Regents establishes nutrition criteria for reimbursable school meals and a la carte snacks (RINR).
​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.
2016: RI General Assembly passes “Recess Law” requiring 20 consecutive minutes of free-play recess each school day in elementary school. ​
​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.
​2018:  RI General Assembly passes “Healthy School Foods/Beverage Marketing Law” prohibiting junk food and sugary drink advertising at schools, effective September 1, 2018.