Students
Iowa has some of the best schools and some of the most academically-accomplished students. The evidence is clear that adequate levels of physical activity and proper nutrition play a role in a student's success. The resources listed here will help you in your efforts to keep students healthy and ready to learn.
School Wellness Community Guide
An integrated school, parent, and community approach can enhance the health and well-being of Iowa students. Iowa Team Nutrition and Iowa Partners: Action for Healthy Kids have partnered to develop this guide to identify specific strategies and action that schools can take to increase community engagement in school wellness activities.
School Nurse Toolkit
The School Nurse Toolkit (Dec. 2011) is a resource to assist school nurses with applying
effective strategies in their daily professional activities. The tool kit provides information based
on feedback from school nurses. The School Nurse Toolkit provides information to implement a
broad range of motivational interview strategies, including ways to initiate conversations with
students and continue to make a difference in the health of students. View or download the toolkit here. 
Safe Routes to School
- I-WALK Teacher Tally: The teacher tally is a tool used to capture baseline date regarding how students get to and from school for three consecutive days.
- The I-Walk Final Report features the results of an Iowa Safe Routes to School pilot project conducted in 12 Iowa communities. Program components, data collected, and local successes are highlighted. January 2012
- Every Step Counts Brochure: A brochure that highlights Safe Routes to School and the key program elements of I-WALK, an Iowa SRTS project administered through Iowans Fit for Life. 2011
- Safe Routes to School Guide - Introduction to Safe Routes to School: the Health, Safety and Transportation Nexus This national guide provides an in-depth background of the decline of walking and biking and the health risks associated with this decrease. The 5 "E's" are explained as the core focus of the program. It also highlights Safe Routes to School as a part of the solution and references examples of success across the nation. February 2007
- A Walking School Bus: Combining Safety, Fun, and the Walk to School: This national tool provides step-by-step guidance for schools and parents starting a Walking School Bus program in your school. A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults.
- Adult School Crossing Guard Guidelines: This national document provides a description of the roles and uses of crossing guards. It also provides guidelines for helping schools determine if crossing guards are needed, best locations for their use, training, funding and recommended procedures for various scenerios they may encounter.
- Teaching Children to Walk Safely as They Grow and Develop: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers: This national guide provides information about how children learn pedestrian skills and provides specific strategies and self-assessments assist children in learning pedestrian skills. July 2008
- Selecting School Bus Stop Locations: A Guide for School Transportation Officials: This national guide provides School Transportation Officials with recommendations and strategies for determining school bus stop locations. July 2010
- Active School Neighborhood Checklist: The aim of the Active School Neighborhood Checklist (ASNC), develop by the Arizona Department of Transportation, is to provide decision makers with a quantitative tool for evaluating the potential long-term health impacts of candidate school sites on the children who will attend them. August 2010
- School Health Index Modules for Safe Routes to School: The SHI is a self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. This SHI module provides schools with a way to assess and evaluate their Safe Routes to School program. Elementary and middle/high school versions available.
- Let's Move SRTS letter of support from Michelle Obama.
Walking Works for Schools
Walking is a form of exercise accessible to just about everybody. It's safe, simple and doesn't require practice. Walking is free, easy to fit into daily life, and can be a great form of transportation. Use this resource to organize a walking club or walk-to-school program at your school that will energize the entire community!
Walking with a Purpose for Schools
Walking with a Purpose for Schools is now available to help schools and children identify ways that their route to school could be more walkable. The tool gives ideas on where to complete the assessment, community members to invite to the assessment, a walkability checklist, discussion questions, what to do after the walk, potential class projects to consider, and resources.
