Drinking Water Access in Schools

Children spend most of their day at school, therefore school policies and programs can have a significant impact on encouraging – or discouraging – healthy water consumption.

With the 2010 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, schools participating in federal meal programs are required to make water available during mealtimes at no cost to students. When schools increase access to free drinking water, they help promote children’s readiness to learn, and their overall health.

ChangeLab Solutions developed this fact sheet to offer strategies for schools to make drinking water more readily available, and guidance for parents, teachers and community members to get involved.