CDC Healthy Schools Highlights

• CDC researchers recently published an article in CDC’sPreventing Chronic Disease (PCD) journal on the associations between state-level guidance and the policies and practices in school districts regarding food and beverage marketing and promotion. The findings show that policy guidance and technical assistance from states to school districts can help restrict advertisements for junk food or fast food restaurants on school property. Read the article titled "State-Level and District-Level Policies and Practices for Food Marketing in US School Districts".

• Students from the National Honor Society and the boys and girls basketball teams in an Arkansas high school raised matching funds for a water filling station in their school. The water filling station will be accessible to all 2,100 students and will be placed in a high traffic area of the school. This project supports the district’s efforts in improving water access and increasing hydration throughout the school day in all schools.

• Indiana’s Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA), in partnership with school administrators, district wellness coordinators, and Go Noodle, provided access to the classroom-based online physical activity platform calledGo Noodle Plus. With a combined potential reach of 4,510 students across 11 schools, the initiative aims at increasing students’ daily physical activity. Physical activity as well as teacher engagement increased by the end of the trial. Evaluation will continue for future implementation efforts.

Spotlight on Professional Development

Learn to promote your professional development services more effectively and reach the professionals who can most benefit from your training opportunities, resources, and technical assistance.

The Guide to Promoting Professional Development provides information and examples to help you:

• Identify appropriate audiences for your professional development services.
• Reach these audiences with relevant and well-defined services that are based on best practices.
• Design and share appealing materials that will increase interest, investment, and participation from these audiences.