Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has awarded the Hawaii State Department of Education a $40,300 grant to provide technical assistance and support to schools applying for HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) certification.
Janet Liang, president of Kaiser Permanente Hawaii, will present a check to Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, January 30, on the stairs fronting the Queen Liliuokalani Building.
HUSSC is a voluntary national certification initiative established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) in 2004 for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program.
Schools that receive HealthierUS School Challenge certification are recognized for their progress in making significant changes to their school environment to:
(1) improve the quality of the foods served,
(2) provide students with nutrition education, and
(3) provide students with physical education and opportunities for physical activity. HealthierUS Schools must also have a local school wellness policy, as mandated by Congress.
Thus far, HUSSC awards have been given to schools in 45 states. As of October 20, 2011, there are 2,161 schools certified. Currently, no school in Hawaii has qualified for the HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) certification.
