This bill aims to enhance student nutrition by modifying educational curricula for students in kindergarten through grade 12 to include comprehensive instruction on nutrition. Specifically, it mandates that the kindergarten program and health curricula for grades one through six and seven through eight emphasize the importance of animal-based protein, dairy, vegetables, and fruit, as well as their nutritional benefits and roles in a balanced diet. Additionally, the bill requires that the agriculture, food, and natural resources component of career and technical education for grades nine through twelve includes instruction on food production and the benefits of local sourcing.
Furthermore, the bill introduces a new section that directs the Department of Education to apply for a waiver under federal law to exempt certain nutritional standards in school meal programs and to allow for the adoption of state-specific nutritional guidelines that align with Iowa's dietary recommendations. If granted, the Department is tasked with updating the guidelines for what constitutes a nutritionally adequate meal, consulting with various stakeholders, and establishing a joint committee with the Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to oversee the implementation and evaluation of these guidelines. The bill also requires the Department to submit an annual report to the General Assembly on the impact of these guidelines, including student health outcomes and program participation.
Statutes affected: Introduced: 256.11, 256E.7