Policies
Link to this section
Health Education
Teaching of nutrition education is supported by District Policy #19-24SP1, which requires use of district adopted materials, skills based content focused, and professional development Health Education mandates.
- Elementary School: 20 lessons / grade level / year
- Middle School: 30 hours / grade level /year
- High School: One semester graduation requirement
Physical Education
Physical Education is mandated by District and State Education Codes as follows:
- Elementary School: 200 minutes / 10 days (K-5)
- Middle School: 400 minutes / 10 days (6 -8)
- High School: 2 years of 400 minutes / 10 days
Wellness Policy
San Francisco Unified School District and County Office
of Education
Board Policy 5030
Wellness Policy
This Board Policy applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
The Governing Board recognizes the link between student health and learning and desires to provide a comprehensive program promoting healthy eating and physical activity for district students. The Superintendent or designee shall coordinate and align district efforts to support student wellness through health education, physical education and activity, health services, nutrition services, psychological and counseling services, and a safe and healthy school environment. In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall develop strategies for promoting staff wellness and for involving parents/guardians and the community in reinforcing students' understanding and appreciation of the lifelong habits that promote a healthy lifestyle.
School Wellness Council
The Superintendent or designee shall encourage parents/guardians, students, food service employees, physical education teachers, school health professionals, Board members, school administrators, and members of the public to participate in the development, implementation, and periodic review and update of the district's student wellness policy. (42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.31)
To fulfill this requirement, the Superintendent or designee may appoint a school wellness council or other district committee and a wellness council coordinator. The council may include representatives of the groups listed above, as well as health educators, curriculum directors, counselors, before- and after-school program staff, health practitioners, and/or others interested in school health issues.
The Superintendent or designee may make available to the public and school community a list of the names, position titles, and contact information of the wellness council members.
The wellness council shall advise the district on health-related issues, activities, policies, and programs. At the discretion of the Superintendent or designee, the duties of the council may also include the planning, implementation, and evaluation of activities to promote health within the school or community.
Goals for Nutrition Promotion and Education, Physical Activity, and Other Wellness Activities
The Board shall adopt specific goals for nutrition promotion and education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that promote student wellness. In developing such goals, the Board shall review and consider evidence-based strategies and techniques. (42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.31)
Nutrition Promotion and Education Goals
The district's nutrition education and physical education programs shall be based on research, shall be consistent with the expectations established in the state's curriculum frameworks and content standards, and shall be designed to build the skills and knowledge that all students need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Physical Education programs shall follow the Physical Education Board Policy BP and AR 6142.7. The nutrition education program shall include, but is not limited to, information about the benefits of healthy eating for learning, disease prevention, weight management, and oral health. Nutrition education shall be provided as part of the health education program and, as appropriate, shall be integrated into other academic subjects in the regular educational program, before- and after-school programs, summer learning programs, and school garden programs.
Nutrition Promotion Goals:
- Schools will promote healthy food and beverage choices for all students throughout the school campus. This includes ensuring that foods that do not meet with Wellness Policy are not served or sold to students.
- Participation in federal child nutrition programs will be promoted among students and families to help ensure that families know what meal programs are available at their school.
- District staff will not use food or beverages as a reward for students' academic performance, accomplishments, or classroom behavior. The District will provide teachers and other relevant school staff with a playbook of alternative ways to encourage and reward children.
- District staff will not use food or beverages as a punishment. All students will be able to access meals when and where they are provided.
Nutrition Education Goals:
- Nutrition education shall be provided as part of the comprehensive integrated health education program for all PK-12 students, as delineated in the Board's Comprehensive Health Education Policy (P6302).
- Nutrition education shall address the relationship between nutrition and mental health, emotional health, disease prevention, weight management, and oral health. Instruction should emphasize how food and nutrition impact student’s ability to self-regulate, support social-emotional health, and promote full participation in their educational experience.
- Professional development shall be regularly offered to all classroom teachers, especially to health education and physical education teachers, coaches, activity supervisors, food services staff, and other staff as appropriate to enhance their health knowledge and skills for students and staff health and wellness, with the intention to support implementing the District’s wellness policy.
Physical Activity Goals and Other District and School Based Activities for Wellness
All students shall be provided opportunities to be physically active on a regular basis. Opportunities for moderate to vigorous physical activity shall be provided through physical education and recess and may also be provided through school athletic programs, extracurricular programs, before- and after-school programs, summer learning programs, programs encouraging students to walk or bicycle to and from school, in-class physical activity breaks, and other structured and unstructured activities.
Students will be provided adequate time for recess at elementary levels and encouraged to engage in physical and kinesthetic activities throughout the day. District staff shall use restorative approaches to support positive student behaviors and will not withhold physical activity (including recess) as a form of punishment. Schools shall prioritize the use of school fields and black tops for student physical activities.
The Board may enter into a joint use agreement or memorandum of understanding to make district facilities or grounds available for recreational or sports activities outside the school day and/or to use community facilities to expand students' access to opportunity for at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity during the course of the day.
District staff shall work with relevant City departments and local agencies (e.g., the San Francisco Safe Routes to School Partnership) to assess walking and biking conditions at each school and leverage opportunities to make it easier for students to walk or bike to school. Schools shall participate in and actively promote physical activity programming, such as programming from the county, city, state, and CBO District Wide events.
Professional development may be regularly offered to the nutrition program director, managers, and staff, as well as health education teachers, physical education teachers, coaches, activity supervisors, and other staff as appropriate to enhance their knowledge and skills related to student and staff health and wellness, to support them in achieving optimal health.
In order to ensure that students have access to comprehensive health services, the district may provide access to health services at or near district schools and/or may provide referrals to community resources.
The Board recognizes that a safe, positive school environment is also conducive to students' physical and mental health and thus prohibits bullying and harassment of all students, including bullying on the basis of weight or health condition.
The Superintendent or designee shall encourage staff to serve as positive role models for healthy eating and physical fitness. The Superintendent or designee shall promote work-site wellness programs and may provide opportunities for regular physical activity among employees. The District will promote initiatives designed to encourage a culture that improves the health, safety, and well-being of employees and family members.
Nutrition Standards and Guidelines for All Foods and Beverages Available at School
For all foods and beverages available on each campus during the school day, the district shall adopt nutrition guidelines which are consistent with 42 USC 1758, 1766, 1773, and 1779 and federal regulations and which support the objectives of promoting student health and helping students to maintain a healthy
In order to maximize the district's ability to provide nutritious meals and snacks, all district schools shall participate in available federal school nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and after-school supper/snack programs, to the extent possible. When approved by the California Department of Education, the district may sponsor a summer meal program.
The Superintendent or designee shall provide access to free, potable water in the food service area during meal times in accordance with Education Code 38086 and 42 USC 1758, and shall encourage students' consumption of water by educating them about the health benefits of water and by serving water in an appealing manner, and allowing students to bring and carry water bottles filled only with water throughout the day.
Sweetened beverages (ie any beverage that contains added caloric sweeteners, including sodas, energy drinks, sweetened ice teas, sports drinks, flavored water, sweetened juices, juice nectars and fruit punches) and/or fruit/vegetable juice will not be sold or served to students, staff or families at any time on any District property. Caffeinated beverages will not be sold or served to SFUSD students at any time on any district property.
The Board believes that all foods and beverages sold or served to students at district schools, including those available outside the district's reimbursable food services program, should support the health curriculum and promote optimal health. Nutrition standards adopted by the district for foods and beverages provided through student stores, vending machines, or other venues shall meet or exceed state and federal nutrition standards. This includes snacks, celebrations, school meals or a la carte service, donated foods, snack bars or concessions, fundraisers on school campus, classroom based activities, parent and staff meetings, and after school programs, regardless of funding source.
The Superintendent or designee shall require school organizations to use food items that meet the SFUSD nutrition guidelines or non-food items for fundraising purposes.
The Superintendent or designee also shall require school staff to avoid the use of foods or beverages as a reward or punishment for students' academic performance, accomplishments, or classroom behavior. School staff shall require parents/guardians or other volunteers to support the district's nutrition education program by adhering to the District’s Nutritional Guidelines concerning nutritional quality when selecting any snacks which they may donate for occasional class parties. Class parties or celebrations that include food and/or beverages shall be held after the lunch period. For PreK programs, such events may only take place following the last meal or snack service of the day. At full-day PreK sites, such events may only take place following afternoon snack, which is served after lunch. At school-day PreK sites, such events may only take place following lunch.
To reinforce the district's nutrition education program, the Board prohibits the marketing and advertising of foods and beverages that do not meet nutrition standards for the sale of foods and beverages on campus during the school day. (Education Code 49431.9; 7 CFR 210.31) This includes the exterior of vending machines, posters, menu boards, coolers, trash cans, food service equipment, logos scoreboards, school supplies, ads in school publications, coupon or incentive programs, free giveaways, or any other means.
(cf. 1325 Advertising and Promotion)
(cf. 3554 – Other Food Sales)
https://go.boarddocs.com/ca/sfusd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=AGP2VY04185E# 4/139/8/26, 1:08 PM BoardDocs® Pro
The District will partner with the City to provide training and information to unauthorized food vendors operating within 500-1000 feet of all school entrances, or the equivalent of a city block, to ensure they sell foods and beverages that meet the District's nutrition guidelines.
Program Oversight, Implementation and Evaluation
The Superintendent designates the position(s) identified below as the individual(s) responsible for ensuring that each school site complies with the district's wellness policy. (42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.31)
Manager 1, Wellness Policy and Health Education Action Teams, Student and Family Services Division
(415) 242-2615
sflink@sfusd.edu
Manager 1, Child Nutrition Programs Manager, Student Nutrition Services
(415) 749-3604
SchoolLunch@sfusd.edu
The Superintendent or designee shall assess the implementation and effectiveness of this policy at least once every three years. (42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.31)
The assessment shall include the extent to which district schools are in compliance with this policy, the extent to which this policy compares to model wellness policies available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and a description of the progress made in attaining the goals of the wellness policy. (42 USC 1758b)
The Superintendent or designee shall invite feedback on district and school wellness activities from food service personnel, school administrators, the wellness council, parents/guardians, students, teachers, before- and after-school program staff, and/or other appropriate persons.
The Board and the Superintendent or designee shall establish indicators that will be used to measure the implementation and effectiveness of the district activities related to student wellness. Such indicators may include, but are not limited to:
- Descriptions of the district's nutrition education, physical education, and health education curricula and the extent to which they align with state academic content standards and legal requirements
- An analysis of the nutritional content of school meals and snacks served in all district programs, based on a sample of menus and production records
- Student participation rates in all school meal and/or snack programs, including the number of students enrolled in the free and reduced-price meals program compared to the number of students eligible for that program
- Extent to which foods and beverages sold on campus outside the food services program, such as through vending machines, student stores, or fundraisers, comply with nutrition standards
- Extent to which other foods and beverages that are available on campus during the school day, such as foods and beverages for classroom parties, school celebrations, and rewards/incentives, comply with nutrition standards
- Results of the state's physical fitness test at applicable grade levels
- Number of minutes of physical education offered at each grade span, and the estimated percentage of class time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity
- A description of district efforts to provide additional opportunities for physical activity outside of the physical education program
- A description of other districtwide or school-based wellness activities offered, including the number of sites and/or students participating, as appropriate
As feasible, the assessment report may include a comparison of results across multiple years, a comparison of district data with county, statewide, or national data, and/or a comparison of wellness data with other student outcomes such as academic indicators or student discipline rates.
In addition, the Superintendent or designee shall prepare and maintain the proper documentation and records needed for the administrative review of the district's wellness policy conducted by the California Department of Education (CDE) every three years.
The assessment results of both the district and state evaluations shall be submitted to the Board for the purposes of evaluating policy and practice, recognizing accomplishments, and making policy adjustments as needed to focus district resources and efforts on actions that are most likely to make a positive impact on student health and achievement.
Reporting to the Public
The Superintendent or designee shall inform the public about the content and implementation of the district's wellness policy and shall make the policy, and any updates to the policy, available to the public on an annual basis. He/she shall also inform the public of the district's progress towards meeting the goals of the wellness policy, including the availability of the triennial district assessment. (Education Code 49432; 42 USC 1758b; 7 CFR 210.31)
The Superintendent or designee shall distribute this information through the most effective methods of communication, including district or school newsletters, handouts, parent/guardian meetings, district and school web sites, and other communications. Outreach to parents/guardians shall emphasize the relationship between student health and wellness and academic performance.
Each school may lpost a summary of nutrition and physical activity laws and regulations prepared by the CDE.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
fax: 202-690-7442; or
email: Program.Intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Records
The Superintendent or designee shall retain records that document compliance with 7 CFR 210.31, including, but not limited to, the written student wellness policy, documentation of the triennial assessment of the wellness policy for each school site, and documentation demonstrating compliance with the community involvement requirements, including requirements to make the policy and assessment results available to the public. (7 CFR 210.31)
Policy Reference Disclaimer:
These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority for the Governing Board to enact this policy. Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
State \ Description
5 CCR 15500-15501 | Food sales by student organizations
5 CCR 15510 | Mandatory meals for needy students
5 CCR 15530-15535 | Nutrition education
5 CCR 15550-15565 | School lunch and breakfast programs
Ed. Code 33350-33354 | CDE responsibilities re: physical education
Ed. Code 38086 | Free fresh drinking water
Ed. Code 49430-49434 | Pupil Nutrition, Health, and Achievement Act of 2001
Ed. Code 49490-49494 | School breakfast and lunch programs
Ed. Code 49500-49505 | School meals
Ed. Code 49510-49520 | Nutrition
Ed. Code 49530-49536 | Child Nutrition Act
Ed. Code 49540-49546 | Child care food program
Ed. Code 49547-49548.3 | Comprehensive nutrition services
Ed. Code 49550-49562 | Meals for needy students
Ed. Code 49565-49565.8 | California Fresh Start pilot program
Ed. Code 49570 National | School Lunch Act
Ed. Code 51210 | Course of study for grades 1-6
Ed. Code 51210.1-51210.2 | Physical education; grades 1-6
Ed. Code 51210.4 | Nutrition education
Ed. Code 51220 | Course of study for grades 7-12
Ed. Code 51222 | Physical education
Ed. Code 51223 | Physical education; elementary schools
Ed. Code 51795-51798 | School instructional gardens
Ed. Code 51880-51921 | Comprehensive health education
Federal | Description
42 USC 1751-1769j | School Lunch Program
42 USC 1758b | Local wellness policy
42 USC 1771-1793 | Child Nutrition Act
42 USC 1773 | School Breakfast Program
42 USC 1779 | Rules and regulations, Child Nutrition Act
7 CFR 210.1-210.33 | National School Lunch Program
7 CFR 210.31 | Wellness policy
7 CFR 220.1-220.22 | National School Breakfast Program
Management Resources | Description
California Department of Education Publication } Physical Education Framework for California Public Schools, Kindergarten Through Grade 12, 2009
California Department of Education Publication | Health Framework for California Public Schools: Kindergarten through Grade 12, 2003
California Project Lean Publication | Policy in Action: A Guide to Implementing Your Local School Wellness Policy, October 2006
Center for Collaborative Solutions | Changing Lives, Saving Lives: A Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Exemplary Practices in Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Food Security, Jan 2015
Centers for Disease Control&Prevention Publication | School Health Index for Physical Activity and Healthy Eating: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide, rev. 2012
Court Decision | Frazer v. Dixon Unified School District (1993) 18 Cal.App.4th 781
CSBA Publication | Building Healthy Communities: A School Leader's Guide to Collaboration and Community Engagement, 2009
CSBA Publication | School-Based Marketing of Foods and Beverages: Policy Implications for School Boards, Policy Brief, March 2006
CSBA Publication | Student Wellness: A Healthy Food and Physical Activity Policy Resource Guide, 2012
CSBA Publication | Nutrition Standards for Schools: Implications for Student Wellness, Policy Brief, rev. April 2012
CSBA Publication | Physical Activity and Physical Education in California Schools, Research Brief, April 2010
CSBA Publication | Physical Education and California Schools, Policy Brief, October 2007
CSBA Publication | Safe Routes to School: Program and Policy Strategies for School Districts, Policy Brief, 2009
CSBA Publication | Increasing Access to Drinking Water in Schools, Policy Brief, April 2013
CSBA Publication | Integrating Physical Activity into the School Day, Governance Brief, April 2016
CSBA Publication | Monitoring for Success: A Guide for Assessing and Strengthening Student Wellness Policies, rev. 2012
Federal Register | Rules and Regulations, July 29, 2016, Vol. 81, Number 146, pages 50151-50170
National Assoc of State Boards of Education Pub | Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn, rev. 2012
U.S. Department of Agriculture Publication | Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2016
Website | CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services
Website | California Project LEAN (Leaders Encouraging Activity and Nutrition)
Website | California School Nutrition Association
Website | Center for Collaborative Solutions
Website | Action for Healthy Kids
Website | Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Website | California Department of Education, School Nutrition
Website | Dairy Council of California
Website | National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity
Website | National Association of State Boards of Education
Website | School Nutrition Association
Website | Society for Nutrition Education
Website | U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Nutrition Service, wellness policy
Website | U.S. Department of Agriculture, Healthy Meals Resource System
Website | California Department of Public Health
Website | California Healthy Kids Resource Center
Website | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Website | CSBA
Cross References
Code | Description
0200 Goals For The School District
0460 Local Control And Accountability Plan
0460 Local Control And Accountability Plan
1220 Citizen Advisory Committees
1220 Citizen Advisory Committees
1230 School-Connected Organizations
1230 School-Connected Organizations
1260 Educational Foundation
1325 Advertising And Promotion
1330.1 Joint Use Agreements
1400 Relations Between Other Governmental Agencies And The Schools
1700 Relations Between Private Industry And The Schools
3000 Concepts And Roles
3290 Gifts, Grants And Bequests
3312 Contracts
3452 Student Activity Funds
3513.3 Tobacco-Free Schools
3513.3 Tobacco-Free Schools
3513.4 Drug And Alcohol Free Schools
3550 Food Service/Child Nutrition Program
3550 Food Service/Child Nutrition Program
3551 Food Service Operations/Cafeteria Fund
3551 Food Service Operations/Cafeteria Fund
3552 Summer Meal Program
3552 Summer Meal Program
3553 Free And Reduced Price Meals
3553 Free And Reduced Price Meals
3554 Other Food Sales
3554 Other Food Sales
3555 Nutrition Program Compliance
3555-E(1) Nutrition Program Compliance
4131 Staff Development
4231 Staff Development
5113.1 Chronic Absence And Truancy
5113.1 Chronic Absence And Truancy
5113.12 District School Attendance Review Board
5113.12 District School Attendance Review Board
5131.2 Bullying
5131.2 Bullying
5131.6 Alcohol And Other Drugs
5131.6 Alcohol And Other Drugs
5131.61 Drug Testing
5131.62 Tobacco
5131.62 Tobacco
5131.63 Steroids
5131.63 Steroids
5137 Positive School Climate
5141 Health Care And Emergencies
5141 Health Care And Emergencies
5141.22 Infectious Diseases
5141.22 Infectious Diseases
5141.23 Asthma Management
5141.23 Asthma Management
5141.27 Food Allergies/Special Dietary Needs
5141.27 Food Allergies/Special Dietary Needs
5141.3 Health Examinations
5141.3 Health Examinations
5141.31 Immunizations
5141.31 Immunizations
5141.32 Health Screening For School Entry
5142.2 Safe Routes To School Program
5142.2 Safe Routes To School Program
5144 Discipline
5144 Discipline
5145.3 Nondiscrimination/Harassment
5145.3 Nondiscrimination/Harassment
5145.6 Parent/Guardian Notifications
5145.6-E(1) Parent/Guardian Notifications
5145.71 Title IX Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment Complaint Procedures
5145.71-E(1) Title IX Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment Complaint Procedures
5146 Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students
5147 Dropout Prevention
5148 Child Care And Development
5148 Child Care And Development
5148.2 Before/After School Programs
5148.2 Before/After School Programs
5148.3 Preschool/Early Childhood Education
5148.3 Preschool/Early Childhood Education
6020 Parent Involvement
6020 Parent Involvement
6112 School Day
6112 School Day
6142.1 Sexual Health And HIV/AIDS Prevention Instruction
6142.1 Sexual Health And HIV/AIDS Prevention Instruction
6142.5 Environmental Education
6142.7 Physical Education And Activity
6142.7 Physical Education And Activity
6142.8 Comprehensive Health Education
6142.8 Comprehensive Health Education
6145.2 Athletic Competition
6145.2 Athletic Competition
6176 Weekend/Saturday Classes
Cross References
Amended and Approved via Consent Calendar on April 14, 2026
Second Reading: June 22, 2021
Rules Committee: June 7, 2021
First Reading: May 25, 2021
Adopted: April 28, 2015
136-25A2 In Support of a Policy Allowing Students to Eat Breakfast During Their First
Class of the School Day
93-10A1 Feeding Every Hungry Child in the SFUSD
211-12A8 Healthy School Nutrition and Physical Exercise Policy for SFUSD
This page was last updated on September 10, 2026