Act 1220 of 2003 Comprehensive Evaluation Project

In 2004, the UAMS Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to evaluate the process and impact of implementing a comprehensive state law, Arkansas Legislative Act 1220 of 2003, in public schools. Each year the COPH Act 1220 Evaluation Team surveys parents, adolescents, school principals, and district superintendents throughout the state, interviews a number of individuals to assess the progress of the Act 1220 implementation, and prepares an annual report summarizing the results of this policy evaluation. Our Year Seven report is now available and you can access all of our reports here.

School Cafeteria Nutrition Assessment (SCNA) - Coming Soon

Resources for Public Schools Making Changes to Nutrition and Physical Activity

Research shows that well nourished and physically active students show improved educational success. Over the last decade, a confluence of legislation at the state and federal levels was enacted to address the obesity epidemic, including Act 1220 of 2003, the Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards - August 2005, and the federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. The laws and policy changes were enacted with a common goal of creating a school environment that incorporates healthy eating and physical activity. Through a grant from the Blue and You Foundation, the College of Public Health prepared four resource pages to help school personnel and parents take action to address that goal. The resource pages address issues that schools face in making changes to nutrition and physical activity policies such as fundraising, rewards and parties, vending and a la carte foods, and physical activity.