Fulfilling the Promise of Free Water in K-12 Schools

In 2011, we joined researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and California Food Policy Advocates to examine drinking water access, policies and practices, and barriers to improving water consumption in California public schools.

This policy brief presents principal study findings and key policy recommendations from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Healthy Eating Research funded study. All of the 240 randomly selected schools reported offering free drinking water in at least one location on campus. However, one in four schools reported no such access where meals are served despite California SB1413 and the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 water in schools requirements.