Date of Hearing: July 10, 2019

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 346

Author:(Jackson) – As Amended Ver:March 25, 2019

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: No

SUMMARY:

This bill reestablishes the Distinguished After School Health (DASH) program at the California Department of Education (CDE), which recognizes afterschool programs that meet certain health requirements, including training staff on healthy eating and physical activity, providing healthy food and drinks to children and providing children with physical activity and limited screen time. The bill requires the CDE to design a template for afterschool programs to apply for the DASH recognition and requires programs to reapply every two years in order to continue to be recognized. The bill also requires the CDE to maintain a list of programs with DASH recognition on its website.

The bill specifies funding for the program is subject to an appropriation or the receipt of funding from non-state sources.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Ongoing General Fund costs of about $150,000 for CDE to administer the DASH program.

COMMENTS:

1. Background. SB 949 (Jackson), Chapter 369, Statutes of 2014, created the DASH recognition program and repealed the program on January 1, 2018. The DASH program provided recognition to school-cite afterschool programs meeting certain nutritional and physical activity requirements established by the program’s authorizing legislation.

This bill is similar to the DASH program’s authorizing legislation, however, it does not contain a sunset date.

According to a 2016 evaluation of the DASH program by RTI International, the CDE received 202 applications from over 4,200 eligible afterschool programs. Of those, 190 were DASH certified. The evaluation indicated the program did not require CDE to provide training or technical assistance to afterschool programs. The evaluation also questioned whether a DASH certification and listing on a state website was sufficient incentive to encourage programs to improve their practices.

1. Related Legislation. SB 55 (Jackson), of the 2017-18 Legislation Session, would have deleted the January 1, 2018, sunset date for the DASH program. The bill was held in this committee.

Analysis Prepared by: Natasha Collins / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: June 19, 2019

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Patrick O'Donnell, Chair

SBPCA Bill Id:SB 346

Author:(Jackson) – As Amended Ver:March 25, 2019

SENATE VOTE: 38-0

SUBJECT: After school programs: Distinguished After School Health Recognition Program

SUMMARY: Re-establishes the Distinguished After School Health (DASH) Recognition Program, which was repealed on January 1, 2018, to be administered by the California Department of Education (CDE). Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the CDE to develop an application process for an after school program to be recognized as a program that meets the following nutritional and physical activity requirements:
2. Each staff member of the after school program has received specified training on the standards of the DASH Recognition Program and the importance of modeling healthy eating and physical activity, and that the training provided be in accordance with the YMCA of the USA, the Center for Collaborative Solutions, A World Fit For Kids!, the National After School Association’s standards for healthy eating and physical activity in out-of-school time, the National Institute on Out-of-School Time, or other similar programs;
3. The after school program provides regular and ongoing nutrition education to each program attendee to help the program attendee develop and practice healthy habits;
4. The after school program ensures that each program attendee participates, on a daily basis, in an average of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, consistent with Guidelines 7 and 8 of the CDE’s California After School Physical Activity Guidelines;
5. Screen time is limited during the operational hours of the after school program and is only allowed in connection with homework, educational experience, or an activity that engages program attendees in physical activity;
6. Healthy foods, including, but not limited to, fruits or vegetables without added sugar, are served to program attendees as snacks on a daily basis, and fried foods, candy, or foods that are primarily sugar-based, high in sodium, or include trans fat are not served to program attendees or consumed by staff during the after school program’s hours of operation;
7. Program attendees are served water, low-fat or nonfat milk, nonfat flavored milk, or 100 percent fruit juice; safe and clean drinking water is available and accessible at all times to program attendees and staff; milk and fruit juices are not served in quantities exceeding eight ounces per day; sugar-sweetened beverages are not served to program attendees; and staff of the after school program do not consume sugar-sweetened beverages at the after school program site;
8. If the after school program conducts a fundraiser during after school program hours:
9. Items sold shall be in compliance with the requirements of (e) and (f) above;
10. Sales shall be in compliance with United States Department of Agriculture Competitive Food Sales regulations; and
11. Sales shall not be scheduled during snack or meal service.
12. If the after school program is located on a schoolsite, the program communicates with the school regarding nutrition education and physical activity, as appropriate, to provide the program attendees with a complete educational experience, and all activities must adhere to the school district’s wellness policy;
13. The after school program has implemented an educational program for parents of program attendees that provides the parents with nutrition and physical activity information relevant to the after school program and the health of their children; and
14. Information about the implementation of requirements identified above is available for review by a parent at both the physical location of the after school program and on the after school program’s website, if there is one, and the after school program maintains in its records a document signed by all parents acknowledging that they are aware of the DASH program requirements and policies to institute and reinforce these specific healthy behaviors for all children served in the after school program.
15. Defines the following terms:
16. “After school program” means the After School Education and Safety (ASES) program, the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers program, 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETS), and other qualified out-of-school time programs located on public schoolsites;
17. “Program attendee” means a person enrolled in an after school program or summer program; and
18. “Screen time” means time spent viewing or working on television, videos, computers, and hand-held devices, with or without internet access.
19. Requires the CDE to include all resources and links that an after school program may use to meet the requirements above.
20. Requires the recognition program process to provide an after school program with the option to apply for a certificate, using a template designed by the CDE, that includes a document, signed by the principal of the school, demonstrating the manner in which the after school program meets specified criteria.
21. Provides that a certificate is valid for two calendar years and requires an after school program that wishes to apply for recertification to submit a new application that the program continues to follow the DASH Recognition Program criteria.
22. Requires the CDE to maintain and update a list of after school programs that qualify and to post that list on its website, including the date of qualification for each after school program.
23. States that funding for the DASH Recognition Program be subject to an appropriation being made for its purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute, or the receipt of funding from non-state sources.

EXISTING LAW:

1. Establishes the ASES program, passed by voters as Proposition 49 in 2002, which provides $550 million annually for before and after school programs for K-9 students. Priority for funding is granted to schools where at least 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced price meals. ASES programs receive direct grants, for which attendance is projected and grants are funded up-front, in three one-year increments. (Education Code (EC) 8482 et seq.)
2. Establishes the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers to support after school programs serving eligible high school pupils. (EC 8484.7 et seq.)

FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, “The CDE estimates ongoing General Fund costs of approximately $180,000 and the equivalent of 1.1 full-time positions to re-establish and implement the program. However, based on the cost of the previous program that expired on January 1, 2018, the actual amount is likely to be lower.”

COMMENTS:

Need for the bill. The DASH program was established in 2014 with a sunset date of January 1, 2018. As no legislation was enacted prior to that date, the program was repealed. This bill would reestablish the program.

According to the author, “The health and wellbeing of children in childcare is critically important as childhood obesity rates continue to rise from already dangerously high levels. The consequences of childhood obesity threaten not only the quality of life for children in California, but also the fiscal viability of the state’s health care system. It is estimated that California faces potentially catastrophic healthcare costs reaching as high as $52.7 billion related to child obesity.

SB 346 re-creates the Distinguished After School Health (DASH) Recognition Program, a critical tool to combat this problem of childhood obesity. The DASH program is a certification program for on schoolsite after school youth programs that meet specific healthy eating and physical activity standards that have been determined to help children lead healthier, more productive lives. Through DASH certification, these youth programs are recognized for having program curriculum that match the DASH standards for nutrition and physical activity for youth. Through being recognized as DASH certified, the intent is for families to want to have their kids participate in these programs and learn the critical lessons of healthy eating and exercise offered by these programs so that they can lead more healthy and successful lives, as well as share those lessons with their community.”

Rates of childhood obesity and diabetes. In recent years, significant attention has been given to children’s nutritional intake, including foods and beverages consumed at school, as a result of the rising incidence of children who are overweight or obese. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, as well as a lower life expectancy. American childrens’ diets are often high in saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium.

According to the Trust for America’s Health, State of Obesity report, 15.1% of California 10-17 year olds were considered obese in 2011 and 13.9% of high school students were identified as obese in 2015. Additional data from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research shows that 38% of California 5^th, 7^th, and 9^th graders were overweight or obese in 2010, down slightly from 38.44% in 2005.

Afterschool programs in California. The After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program funds the establishment of local after school education and enrichment programs, created through partnerships between schools and local community resources, to provide literacy, academic enrichment and safe constructive alternatives for students in kindergarten through ninth grade. The current funding level for the ASES program is $600 million.

California's 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) Program and the 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens (ASSETs) Program are state-administered, federally funded programs that provide five-year grant funding to establish or expand before- and after-school programs that provide disadvantaged kindergarten through twelfth-grade students (particularly students who attend schools in need of improvement) with academic enrichment opportunities and supportive services to help the students meet state and local standards in core content areas. Total state and federal funding for these two programs is $149 million.

According to the CDE, a total of 859,098 students from kindergarten through twelfth grade participated in one of these three afterschool programs in 2015-16. This represents approximately 14% of the total student population in California. The demographic breakdown illustrates that the programs are often serving high needs populations:

• 81% of the students qualify for free and reduced price meals;
• 31% of the students are English learners; and
• 69.5% of the students are Hispanic.

Evaluation of the DASH Recognition Program. According to a 2016 study by RTI International titled Using State Laws & Regulations to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Afterschool Programs, California was the first state to pass legislation establishing a voluntary healthy eating and physical activity recognition program. In 2016, California appropriated $177,000 for the DASH Recognition Program.

The study notes that the first round of DASH Program applications were received by the CDE in spring 2016 and included 202 applications from over 4,200 elementary and middle school programs eligible to participate in the program. Of those that applied, 190 programs were DASH certified.

The RTI report noted challenges facing the DASH program:

• The program relies on self-certification of the achievement of the DASH standards, but does require supporting documentation and the signature of the principal of the school where the program operates. CDE convened a team of reviewers to examine the initial round of applications and accompanying documentation, which has proved to be an onerous process.
• For the initial round, the DASH certification was only available to programs operating at elementary and middle schools with a focus on ASES grantees, which excluded other after school programs.
• The only benefit to DASH certification is the receipt of a certificate and listing on a state website, which may be insufficient to encourage programs to apply.
• The original 2018 sunset date allowed for two cycles of the DASH program application process, which may not allow for sufficient time to demonstrate the value of the program or to make necessary modifications to improve it.
• The $177,000 one-time allocation of funding provided only for the administration of the DASH program at the CDE with limited or no funding available for training or technical assistance to local programs.

This bill, re-establishing the DASH program, continues to limit the recognition to those programs located at public schoolsites due partially to the ability of the CDE to conduct the necessary oversight. SB 346 does extend the program allowing for additional time to demonstrate the effectiveness of the program or to make necessary modifications to improve it. Other recommendations from the RTI study have not been addressed.

Arguments in support. According to the California Department of Education “The DASH program is about acknowledging those after school programs that are making health a priority for their children. According to the American Heart Association, 23.9 million children in the United States between the ages of two to nineteen are overweight or obese. The DASH program incentivizes after school program providers to meet the healthy standards parents are seeking for their children. After school program providers are critical in improving children’s eating and physical activity habits and should be encouraged and recognized for providing excellent nutrition and physical activity in their programs. Since 2016, the DASH program has recognized approximately 400 after school programs until it sunset on January 1, 2018.”

Related legislation. SB 55 (Jackson) of the 2017-18 Session would have deleted the January 1, 2018 sunset date for the DASH Recognition Program, thereby extending the program indefinitely. This bill was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SB 949 (Jackson), Chapter 369, Statutes of 2014, established the DASH Recognition Program.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

American Academy of Pediatrics, California
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Inc.
American Federation of State, County And Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO
American Heart Association
California Department of Education
California State Alliance of YMCAs
International Health, Racquet & Sports Club Association
Santa Barbara County

Opposition

None on file

Analysis Prepared by: Debbie Look / ED. / (916) 319-2087

 THIRD READING  

Bill No: SB 346

Author: Jackson (D)

Amended: 3/25/19

Vote: 21

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/3/19

AYES: Leyva, Wilk, Chang, Durazo, Glazer, McGuire, Pan

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 5/16/19

AYES: Portantino, Bates, Bradford, Hill, Jones, Wieckowski

SUBJECT: After school programs: Distinguished After School Health Recognition Program

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill re-establishes the Distinguished After School Health (DASH) Recognition Program, to be administered by the California Department of Education (CDE).

ANALYSIS: Existing state and federal law establishes various after school academic enrichment programs including the 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens Program, the After School Education and Safety Program, and the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. (Education Code § 8420, § 8482, and § 8484.7)

This bill re-establishes the DASH Recognition Program, to be administered by the CDE. Specifically, this bill:

1. Requires the CDE to develop an application process for an after school program to be recognized as an after school program that meets the following nutritional and physical activity requirements:
   1. Each staff member of the after school program has received specified training on the standards of the DASH Recognition Program and the importance of modeling healthy eating and physical activity, and that the training provided be in accordance with the YMCA of the USA, the Center Collaborative Solutions, A World Fit For Kids!, the National After School Association’s standards for healthy eating and physical activity in out-of-school time, the National Institute on Out-of-School Time, or other similar programs.
   2. The after school program provides regular and ongoing nutrition education to each program attendee to help the program attendee develop and practice healthy habits.
   3. The after school program ensures that each program attendee participates, on a daily basis, in an average of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, consistent with Guidelines 7 and 8 of the CDE’s California After School Physical Activity Guidelines.
   4. Screen time is limited during the operational hours of the after school program and is only allowed in connection with homework, educational experience, or an activity that engages program attendees in physical activity.
   5. Healthy foods, including, but not limited to, fruits or vegetables, without added sugar, are served to program attendees as snacks on a daily basis and fried foods, candy, or foods that are primarily sugar-based, high in sodium, or include trans fat are not served to program attendees or consumed by staff during the after school program’s hours of operation.
   6. Program attendees are served water, low-fat or nonfat milk, nonfat flavored milk, or 100 percent fruit juice; safe and clean drinking water is available and accessible at all times to program attendees and staff; milk and fruit juices are not served in quantities exceeding eight ounces per day; sugar-sweetened beverages are not served to program attendees; and staff of the after school program do not consume sugar-sweetened beverages at the after school program site.
   7. If the after school program conducts a fundraiser during after school program hours:
      1. Items sold shall be in compliance requirements of (e) and (f) above.
      2. Sales shall be in compliance with United States Department of Agriculture Competitive Food Sales regulations.
      3. Sales shall not be scheduled during snack or meal service.
   8. If the after school program is located on a schoolsite, the after school program communicates with the school regarding nutrition education and physical activity, as appropriate, to provide the program attendees with a complete educational experience, and all activities adhere to the school district’s wellness policy.
   9. The after school program has implemented an educational program for parents of program attendees that provides the parents with nutrition and physical activity information relevant to the after school program and the health of their children.
   10. Information about the implementation of requirements identified above is available for review by a parent at both the physical location of the after school program and on the after school program’s Internet Web site, if there is one, and the after school program maintains in its records a document signed by all parents acknowledging that they are aware of the DASH Recognition Program requirements and policies to institute and reinforce these specific healthy behaviors for all children served in the after school program.
2. Provides the following definitions:
   1. “After school program” to mean After School Education and Safety program, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens, and other qualified out-of-school time programs located on public schoolsites.
   2. “Program attendee” means a person enrolled in an after school program or summer program.
   3. “Screen time” means time spent viewing or working on television, videos, computers, and hand-held devices, with or without Internet access.
3. Requires the CDE to include all resources and links that an after school program may use to meet the requirements above.
4. Requires the process to provide an after school program with the option to apply for a certificate, using a template designed by the CDE, that includes a document, signed by the principal of the school, demonstrating the manner in which the after school program meets specified criteria.
5. Provides that a certificate is valid for two calendar years and requires an after school program that wishes to apply for recertification to submit a new application that the program continues to follow the DASH Recognition Program criteria.
6. Requires the CDE to maintain and update a list of after school programs that qualify and to post that list on its Internet Web site, including the date of qualification for each after school program.
7. Specifies that funding for the DASH Recognition Program be subject to an appropriation being made for its purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute, or the receipt of funding from nonstate sources.

Comments

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “SB 346 re-creates the DASH Recognition Program, a certification for on school-cite after school youth programs that meet specific healthy eating and physical activity standards that have been determined to help children lead healthier, more productive lives. Through DASH certification, these youth programs are recognized for having program curriculum that match the DASH standards for nutrition and physical activity for youth. Before it sunsetted in 2018, over 200 after school programs in California were recognized for meeting the DASH standards.”
2. Obesity and other chronic diseases. The Department of Public Health issued a study, The Burden of Chronic Disease and Injury, in 2013 that highlights some of the leading causes of death, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and respiratory disease, all of which have a strong connection to obesity. Diabetes is another serious chronic disease stemming from obesity that adversely affects quality of life and results in serious medical costs. The last decade has witnessed a 32 percent rise in diabetes prevalence, affecting some 3.9 million people and costing upwards of $24 billion per year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, and approximately 12.5 million children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 years are obese. Research indicates a tripling in the youth obesity rate over the past three decades. While this increase stabilized between the years 2005 and 2010, in 2010, 38 percent of public school children were overweight and obese. Overweight youth face increased risks for many serious detrimental health conditions that do not commonly occur during childhood, including high cholesterol and type-2 diabetes. Additionally, more than 80 percent of obese adolescents remain obese as adults.
3. Evaluation of the DASH Recognition Program. According to a 2016 study by RTI International on Using State Laws & Regulations to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Afterschool Programs, California was the first state to pass legislation establishing a voluntary healthy eating and physical activity recognition program. In 2016, California appropriated $177,000 for the DASH Recognition Program. The study notes that the first round of DASH Program applications were received by the CDE in spring 2016 and included 202 applications from over 4,200 elementary and middle school programs eligible to participate in the program. Of those that applied, 190 programs were DASH certified. In 2017, CDE reported that they received approximately 185 applications for the second year of the program. According to CDE’s Web site, it ultimately awarded DASH recognition to 103 afterschool programs.

The RTI report noted challenges facing the DASH Program:

• 1. The Program relies on self-certification of the achievement of the DASH standards, but does require supporting documentation and the signature of the principal of the school where the program operates. CDE convened a team of reviewers to examine the initial round of applications and accompanying documentation, which has proved to be an onerous process.
  2. For the initial round, the DASH certification was only available to programs operating at elementary and middle schools with a focus on grantees, which excluded other after school programs.
  3. The only benefit to DASH certification is the receipt of a certificate and listing on a state Web site, which may be insufficient to encourage programs to apply.
  4. The original 2018 sunset date allowed for two cycles of the DASH Program application process, which may not allow for sufficient time to demonstrate the value of the program or to make necessary modifications to improve it.
  5. The $177,000 one-time allocation of funding provided only for the administration of the DASH Program at the CDE with limited or no funding available for training or technical assistance to local programs.

1. What about after school programs not located on a schoolsite? This bill now specifically limits the DASH Recognition Program to only those afterschool programs that are located on a schoolsite. However, there are many after school programs that are not located on a schoolsite, such as some Boys & Girls Clubs. The CDE has informed the Senate Education Committee staff that it intends to conduct onsite reviews of DASH award recipients as part of its ongoing monitoring program of California public schools. While this approach does limit the applicant pool, it does allow for an additional level of review for DASH award recipients, which currently self-certify the achievement of the DASH standards, with supporting documentation and the signature of the principal of the school where the program operates.

Related/Prior Legislation

SB 55 (Jackson, 2017) would have deleted the January 1, 2018 sunset date for the DASH Recognition Program, thereby extending the program indefinitely.

SB 949 (Jackson, Chapter 369, Statutes of 2014) established the DASH Recognition Program.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No

According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, this bill specifies that funding for the DASH Recognition Program would be subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute, or the receipt of funding from nonstate sources. The CDE estimates ongoing General Fund costs of approximately $180,000 and the equivalent of 1.1 full-time positions to re-establish and implement the program. However, based on the cost of the previous program that expired on January 1, 2018, the actual amount is likely to be lower.

SUPPORT: (Verified 5/16/19)

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond

American Academy of Pediatrics, California

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

California State Alliance of YMCAs

OPPOSITION: (Verified 5/16/19)

None received

Prepared by: Brandon Darnell / ED. /

5/18/19 11:57:51

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Anthony Portantino, Chair

2019 - 2020 Regular Session

SB 346 (Jackson) - After school programs: Distinguished After School Health Recognition Program

Bill Summary:

This bill re-establishes the Distinguished After School Health (DASH) Recognition program, to be administered by the California Department of Education (CDE).

Fiscal Impact:

This bill specifies that funding for the DASH Recognition Program would be subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act or another statute, or the receipt of funding from nonstate sources. The California Department of Education (CDE) estimates ongoing General Fund costs of approximately $180,000 and the equivalent of 1.1 full-time positions to re-establish and implement the program. However, based on the cost of the previous program that expired on January 1, 2018, the actual amount is likely to be lower.

Background:

Existing state and federal law establish various after school academic enrichment programs including the 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens Program, the After School Education and Safety Program, and the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program.

Before it sunsetted in 2018, the DASH Recognition Program provided a certification for on school-cite after school youth programs that met specific healthy eating and physical activity standards that have been determined to help children lead healthier, more productive lives. These youth programs were recognized for having program curriculum that match the DASH standards for nutrition and physical activity for youth. There were over 200 after school programs in California were recognized for meeting the DASH standards.

Proposed Law:

This bill re-establishes the DASH Recognition program, to be administered by the CDE, to recognize after school programs that meet the specific nutritional and physical activity requirements, including:

1. Each staff member of the after school program has received specified training on the standards of the DASH Recognition Program and the importance of modeling healthy eating and physical activity, and that the training provided be in accordance with the YMCA of the USA, the Center Collaborative Solutions, A World Fit For Kids!, the National After School Association’s standards for healthy eating and physical activity in out-of-school time, the National Institute on Out-of-School Time, or other similar programs.
2. The after school program provides regular and ongoing nutrition education to each program attendee to help the program attendee develop and practice healthy habits.
3. The after school program ensures that each program attendee participates, on a daily basis, in an average of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, consistent with Guidelines 7 and 8 of the CDE’s California After School Physical Activity Guidelines.
4. Screen time is limited during the operational hours of the after school program and is only allowed in connection with homework, educational experience, or an activity that engages program attendees in physical activity.
5. Healthy foods, including, but not limited to, fruits or vegetables, without added sugar, are served to program attendees as snacks on a daily basis and fried foods, candy, or foods that are primarily sugar-based, high in sodium, or include trans fat are not served to program attendees or consumed by staff during the after school program’s hours of operation.
6. Program attendees are served water, low-fat or nonfat milk, nonfat flavored milk, or 100 percent fruit juice; safe and clean drinking water is available and accessible at all times to program attendees and staff; milk and fruit juices are not served in quantities exceeding eight ounces per day; sugar-sweetened beverages are not served to program attendees; and staff of the after school program do not consume sugar-sweetened beverages at the after school program site.

The bill defines “After school program” to mean After School Education and Safety program, the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers program, 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens, and other qualified out-of-school time programs located on public schoolsites.

This bill requires the process to provide an after school program with the option to apply for a certificate, using a template designed by the CDE, that includes a document, signed by the principal of the school, demonstrating the manner in which the after school program meets specified criteria. The bill also provides that a certificate is valid for two calendar years and requires an after school program that wishes to apply for recertification to submit a new application that the program continues to follow the DASH Recognition Program criteria.

This bill requires the CDE to maintain and update a list of after school programs that qualify and to post that list on its Internet Web site, including the date of qualification for each after school program.

This bill specifies that funding for the DASH Recognition Program is subject to an appropriation made for its purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute, or the receipt of funding from nonstate sources.

Related Legislation:

SB 55 (Jackson, 2017) would have deleted the January 1, 2018 sunset date for the DASH Recognition Program, thereby extending the program indefinitely. This bill failed passage in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Chapter 369, Statutes of 2014 (SB 949, Jackson) established the DASH Recognition Program.

-- END --

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Connie Leyva, Chair

2019 - 2020 Regular

Bill No: SB 346 Hearing Date: April 3, 2019

Subject: After school programs: Distinguished After School Health Recognition Program.

SUMMARY

This bill re-establishes the Distinguished After School Health (DASH) Recognition program, to be administered by the California Department of Education (CDE).

BACKGROUND

Existing state and federal law establish various after school academic enrichment programs including the 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens Program, the After School Education and Safety Program, and the federally funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. (Education Code § 8420, § 8482, and § 8484.7)

ANALYSIS

This bill re-establishes the DASH Recognition program, to be administered by the CDE. Specifically, this bill:

1) Requires the CDE to develop an application process for an after school program to be recognized as an after school program that meets the following nutritional and physical activity requirements:

a) Each staff member of the after school program has received specified training on the standards of the DASH Recognition Program and the importance of modeling healthy eating and physical activity, and that the training provided be in accordance with the YMCA of the USA, the Center Collaborative Solutions, A World Fit For Kids!, the National After School Association’s standards for healthy eating and physical activity in out-of-school time, the National Institute on Out-of-School Time, or other similar programs.

b) The after school program provides regular and ongoing nutrition education to each program attendee to help the program attendee develop and practice healthy habits.

c) The after school program ensures that each program attendee participates, on a daily basis, in an average of 30 to 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, consistent with Guidelines 7 and 8 of the California Department of Education’s (CDE’s) California After School Physical Activity Guidelines.

d) Screen time is limited during the operational hours of the after school program and is only allowed in connection with homework, educational experience, or an activity that engages program attendees in physical activity.

e) Healthy foods, including, but not limited to, fruits or vegetables, without added sugar, are served to program attendees as snacks on a daily basis and fried foods, candy, or foods that are primarily sugar-based, high in sodium, or include trans fat are not served to program attendees or consumed by staff during the after school program’s hours of operation.

f) Program attendees are served water, low-fat or nonfat milk, nonfat flavored milk, or 100 percent fruit juice; safe and clean drinking water is available and accessible at all times to program attendees and staff; milk and fruit juices are not served in quantities exceeding eight ounces per day; sugar-sweetened beverages are not served to program attendees; and staff of the after school program do not consume sugar-sweetened beverages at the after school program site.

g) If the after school program conducts a fundraiser during after school program hours:

i) Items sold shall be in compliance requirements of (e) and (f) above.

ii) Sales shall be in compliance with United States Department of Agriculture Competitive Food Sales regulations.

iii) Sales shall not be scheduled during snack or meal service.

h) If the after school program is located on a schoolsite, the after school program communicates with the school regarding nutrition education and physical activity, as appropriate, to provide the program attendees with a complete educational experience, and all activities adhere to the school district’s wellness policy.

i) The after school program has implemented an educational program for parents of program attendees that provides the parents with nutrition and physical activity information relevant to the after school program and the health of their children.

j) Information about the implementation of requirements identified above is available for review by a parent at both the physical location of the after school program and on the after school program’s Internet Web site, if there is one, and the after school program maintains in its records a document signed by all parents acknowledging that they are aware of the Distinguished After School Health Recognition Program requirements and policies to institute and reinforce these specific healthy behaviors for all children served in the after school program.

1. Provides the following definitions:
   1. “After school program” to mean After School Education and Safety program, the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers program, 21st Century High School After School Safety and Enrichment for Teens, and other qualified out-of-school time programs located on public schoolsites.
   2. “Program attendee” means a person enrolled in an after school program or summer program.
   3. “Screen time” means time spent viewing or working on television, videos, computers, and hand-held devices, with or without Internet access.
2. Requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to include all resources and links that an after school program may use to meet the requirements above.

4) Requires the process to provide an after school program with the option to apply for a certificate, using a template designed by the CDE, that includes a document, signed by the principal of the school, demonstrating the manner in which the after school program meets specified criteria.

5) Provides that a certificate is valid for two calendar years and requires an after school program that wishes to apply for recertification to submit a new application that the program continues to follow the Distinguished After School Health (DASH) Recognition Program criteria.

6) Requires the CDE to maintain and update a list of after school programs that qualify and to post that list on its Internet Web site, including the date of qualification for each after school program.

7) Specifies that funding for the DASH Recognition Program be subject to an appropriation being made for its purposes in the annual Budget Act or another statute, or the receipt of funding from nonstate sources.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “SB 346 re-creates the Distinguished After School Health (DASH) Recognition Program, a certification for on school-cite after school youth programs that meet specific healthy eating and physical activity standards that have been determined to help children lead healthier, more productive lives. Through DASH certification, these youth programs are recognized for having program curriculum that match the DASH standards for nutrition and physical activity for youth. Before it sunsetted in 2018, over 200 after school programs in California were recognized for meeting the DASH standards.”
2. Obesity and other chronic diseases. The Department of Public Health issued a study, The Burden of Chronic Disease and Injury, in 2013 that highlights some of the leading causes of death, such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and respiratory disease, all of which have a strong connection to obesity. Diabetes is another serious chronic disease stemming from obesity that adversely affects quality of life and results in serious medical costs. The last decade has witnessed a 32 percent rise in diabetes prevalence, affecting some 3.9 million people and costing upwards of $24 billion per year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of U.S. adults are obese, and approximately 12.5 million children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 years are obese. Research indicates a tripling in the youth obesity rate over the past three decades. While this increase stabilized between the years 2005 and 2010, in 2010, 38 percent of public school children were overweight and obese. Overweight youth face increased risks for many serious detrimental health conditions that do not commonly occur during childhood, including high cholesterol and type-2 diabetes. Additionally, more than 80 percent of obese adolescents remain obese as adults.
3. Evaluation of the Distinguished After School Health (DASH) Recognition Program. According to a 2016 study by RTI International on Using State Laws & Regulations to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Afterschool Programs, California was the first state to pass legislation establishing a voluntary healthy eating and physical activity recognition program. In 2016, California appropriated $177,000 for the DASH Recognition Program. The study notes that the first round of DASH Program applications were received by the California Department of Education (CDE) in spring 2016 and included 202 applications from over 4,200 elementary and middle school programs eligible to participate in the program. Of those that applied, 190 programs were DASH certified. In 2017, CDE reported that they received approximately 185 applications for the second year of the program. According to CDE’s website, it ultimately awarded DASH recognition to 103 afterschool programs.

The RTI report noted challenges facing the DASH program:

• 1. The program relies on self-certification of the achievement of the DASH standards, but does require supporting documentation and the signature of the principal of the school where the program operates. CDE convened a team of reviewers to examine the initial round of applications and accompanying documentation, which has proved to be an onerous process.
  2. For the initial round, the DASH certification was only available to programs operating at elementary and middle schools with a focus on grantees, which excluded other after school programs.
  3. The only benefit to DASH certification is the receipt of a certificate and listing on a state website, which may be insufficient to encourage programs to apply.
  4. The original 2018 sunset date allowed for two cycles of the DASH program application process, which may not allow for sufficient time to demonstrate the value of the program or to make necessary modifications to improve it.
  5. The $177,000 one-time allocation of funding provided only for the administration of the DASH program at the California Department of Education (CDE) with limited or no funding available for training or technical assistance to local programs.

1. What about after school programs not located on a schoolsite? This bill now specifically limits the DASH recognition program to only those afterschool programs that are located on a schoolsite. However, there are many after school programs that are not located on a schoolsite, such as some Boys & Girls Clubs. The CDE has informed committee staff that it intends to conduct onsite reviews of DASH award recipients as part of its ongoing monitoring program of California public schools. While this approach does limit the applicant pool, it does allow for an additional level of review for DASH award recipients, which currently self-certify the achievement of the DASH standards, with supporting documentation and the signature of the principal of the school where the program operates. Notwithstanding this potential benefit, and if the bill moves forward, the author may wish to consider expanding the DASH recognition program applicant pool to include afterschool programs that meet the DASH recognition program requirements, but that are not located on a schoolsite.
2. Previous legislation. SB 55 (Jackson, 2017) would have deleted the January 1, 2018 sunset date for the DASH Recognition Program, thereby extending the program indefinitely.

SB 949 (Jackson), Chapter 369, Statutes of 2014 established the DASH Recognition Program.

SUPPORT

American Academy of Pediatrics, California

American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

California State Alliance of YMCAs

OPPOSITION

None received

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