Obesity among Arkansas public school students rises to record level

KUAR | By Ronak Patel

The childhood obesity rate among Arkansas public school students increased by 3.1%, during the 2020-2021 school year, which is significantly higher than typical year-to-year increases, according to a report from the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI). The increase coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted life for many.

Since 2003, the state has been able to track students' body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat based on height and weight, through Act 1220, which was signed into law by former Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican. Passage of Act 1220 created one of the nation’s first statewide, school-focused initiatives to help children reach and maintain a healthy weight, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2022-03-22/obesity-among-arkansas-public-school-students-rises-to-record-level

Arkansas Nonprofit News Network

42 Bar and Table staffer Melissa Hooper at the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock.

New State COVID-19 Public School Guidelines Issued

By JACQUELINE FROELICH

The Arkansas Department of Education has issued a set of new COVID-19 guidelines to prepare for the coming school year. All public schools are scheduled to hold in-person classes despite the spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant. Lucas Harder, policy services director for the Arkansas School Boards Association provides insight.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/new-state-covid-19-public-school-guidelines-issued

COURTESY / ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Efforts Underway To Help Arkansas Hospitals, Public Schools Amid Rising COVID Cases

With hospitalizations continuing to set new daily records, Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday discussed changes to the state’s trauma system to coordinate COVID-19 care, and efforts to expedite bringing teachers into the state’s beleaguered public schools.

The recent spikes in new known COVID-19 cases has put pressure on Arkansas hospitals. Between Nov. 2 and Nov. 30, total cases rose by 38.5%, deaths rose by 26%, known active cases were up 56%, hospitalizations rose by 54.5%, and ventilator use rose by 69%. Hospitalizations reached another daily record Tuesday of 1,074, up 11 from Monday, according to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). And of the 1,147 ICU beds statewide, only 72 were available, according to the ADH.

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/efforts-underway-help-arkansas-hospitals-public-schools-amid-rising-covid-cases

Efforts Underway To Help Arkansas Hospitals, Public Schools Amid Rising COVID Cases

With hospitalizations continuing to set new daily records, Gov. Asa Hutchinson on Tuesday discussed changes to the state's trauma system to coordinate COVID-19 care, and efforts to expedite bringing teachers into the state's beleaguered public schools. The recent spikes in new known COVID-19 cases has put pressure on Arkansas hospitals.

Waiver Permits Schools to Serve Free Meals Through End of Year

The USDA has issued a waiver allowing schools to serve free meals to all children, not just students, through Dec. 31 or until funding runs out. From the closure of schools in March to the beginning of August, the district has served more than 165,000 meals on 109 serving days.

https://www.kuaf.com/post/waiver-permits-schools-serve-free-meals-through-end-year

Waiver Permits Schools to Serve Free Meals Through End of Year

The USDA has issued a waiver allowing schools to serve free meals to all children, not just students, through Dec. 31 or until funding runs out. Fayetteville Public Schools is one district that has opted in to the program.