The primary aim of this project is to revise and update the content and format of the WellSAT (Wellness School Assessment Tool, www.wellsat.org), an online quantitative measure for evaluating the quality of school wellness policies. Originally launched in 2009, the website has had thousands of visitors across all 50 states, and is used by policy-makers, local-level advocates, researchers, and other key stakeholders working in both research and applied capacities. New school food standards arising out of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, as well as the evolution of best practices in schools, necessitates a revision to keep the measure and website relevant. Investigators will review current school nutrition and physical education best practices, physical activity best practices, and United States Department of Agriculture regulations governing school districts participating in the federal school meal programs. A group of content area experts will be convened to serve in an advisory role as this revision is undertaken.
Start Date: December 2013
ID #: CAS017
Organization: Yale University
Project Lead: Marlene B. Schwartz, PhD
Age Groups: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12), Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)
Resource Type: Commissioned Research Project Summary
Keywords: Competitive foods, Nutrition standards, Physical activity, School meal programs, School wellness policies, Snacks
State: National
Focus Areas: Nutrition Policy & Programs, School & After School
Related Research
September 2025
Food Insecurity-Related Stigma Among Adults in the United States: A Scoping Review
This review aimed to characterize individual- and structural-level stigma associated with government (ie, SNAP, WIC) and emergency food program (ie, food banks, pantries, cupboards, soup kitchens) utilization in the US. 5 databases (PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, Sociological Abstracts) were searched in June 2024. The review included peer-reviewed articles (January 2004 – June 2024), MoreAugust 2025
Lived Experiences of Families Navigating Safety Net Expansions and Retractions During the Pandemic: A Qualitative Study
This study aimed to understand the experiences of families with low income in California with pandemic safety net support expansions and retractions, including barriers to program access. Using open-ended questions, we explored the self-reported experiences of pandemic-era safety net expansions and expirations between January and June 2023 among a group of caregivers of young children MoreAugust 2025