In Arkansas, Act 1220 of 2003 had several requirements to help reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. These include the removal of vending machines in elementary schools, the development of school and district wellness committees, and the annual reporting to communities of funds received from beverage contracts, among others. Act 719 of 2007 updated aspects of Act 1220 including the requirement of the Child Health Advisory Committee (CHAC) to monitor the progress of the Coordinated School Health Program (CSH). Additionally, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 went in effect in 2014 providing additional regulation on the beverages offered during school hours.

Concurrent to these Acts, the Department of Education issued “Rules Governing Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards and Body Mass Index for Age Assessment Protocols in Arkansas Public Schools”.  

• Child Health Advisory Committee
• Arkansas Department of Health
  • School Health Services Unit
  • Community Health Nurse Specialists
  • Community Health Promotion Specialists
• Arkansas Department of Education
  • School Health Services Unit
  • Child Nutrition Unit
  • Arkansas schools and districts
• The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension
• The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
• Arkansas Children’s Hospital
• Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention
• Healthy Active Arkansas: Sugar-sweetened Beverage Reduction Partners

The schools that have had the most success in improving the quality of beverages consumed by students, have staff that receive a salary or stipend for serving as the Coordinated School Health Director or Wellness Committee Chair.  The individuals holding these positions are held accountable for improving the health landscape of the school and finding resources.  Some schools have also had teachers or superintendents surface as successful school health champions.  These champions have a personal commitment to a healthy lifestyle that leads them down the path to improving the health landscape of the school and sometimes the district in addition to their contractual obligations.  

Most recently, it has been noted that holding schools accountable for their ability to meet the requirements set in legislation and “rules” has been a successful means to ensure schools are working to improve the health landscape of their schools.  By tying a school’s ability to receive funding to their ability to provide the required reports and measures, there has been increased compliance with the requirements in the legislation and “rules”.  

Strategy 1: Promote increased access to free drinking water in schools

Strategy 2: Promote pricing strategies that encourage increased consumption of healthy beverages

Strategy 3: Highlight successful schools that restrict the sale of less nutritious beverages

Strategy 4: Promote the use of Smart Snack standards in school concession stands

Strategy 5: Provide technical assistance when providing funding opportunities, curriculum, and best practices

Strategy 6: Provide interactive and timely professional development to school personnel

Strategy 7: Provide a platform for schools to share ideas

Strategy 8: Encourage districts to offer a salaried position dedicated to running the Coordinated School Health program and/or serving as the District Wellness Chair