Governor's Scorecard on Nutrition and Physical Activity
About the Scorecard
The Governor’s Scorecard on Nutrition and Physical Activity measures initiatives taken beyond requirements to promote a culture of health and wellness through food quality, participation in meal programs, health and physical education, and physical activity. The Scorecard is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model and supports and promotes mental and physical wellness to increase opportunities for all students to achieve. Schools are encouraged to use the scorecard as a tool for identifying best practices and measuring progress towards meeting the nutrition and physical activity needs of students.
The Governor’s Scorecard, which originally launched in 2005 as part of Governor Warner's Healthy Virginians Initiative, replaces the U.S. Department of Agriculture's HealthierUS School Challenge and identifies best practices, establishes benchmarks, and provides recognition to schools that exceed minimum requirements related to nutrition and physical activity. The updated version contributes to the category of Innovative Practice in the Exemplar Performance School Recognition program-This is a PDF document.. The criteria for the exemplar performance awards are designed to incentivize schools to make the changes in instruction, policy, support services and practice required to make progress toward meeting the Board of Education’s objective of achieving equity in opportunities and outcomes for all students.
The scorecard includes a total of 40 scored questions and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. Each question is worth up to four points and points are automatically calculated according the answers selected. Each scored question is followed by prompts to add supporting documentation of the best practices reported. The two major sections of the scorecard include:
- Nutrition Environment (25 questions): school nutrition programs, food quality, equitable access to meals, food insecurity, school gardens, and nutrition education
- Healthy School Environment (15 questions): physical activity promotion and health and physical education
Completing the Scorecard
The scorecard should be completed using a team approach. The team should consist of the school principal, wellness policy coordinator, nutrition manager, division nutrition director, health and physical education program coordinator, and at least one parent and one student. The scorecard may be completed annually; answers/data provided should be based on a complete school year. For example, if your team decides to complete the scorecard in October 2021, answers should be based on the 2020-2021 school year.
For detailed instructions on completing the scorecard, please view the 
Governor's Scorecard on Nutrition and Physical Activity video
Transcript-This is a Word document.
Preview the Governor's Scorecard questions-This is a Word document.
Complete the Governor's Scorecard
Award Criteria
The Governor's Scorecard contains 40 scored questions with each question worth up to four points for a total of 160 points. Three levels of superior performance will be awarded in the Governor’s Scorecard:
- Bronze: 112-127 points
- Silver: 128-143
- Gold: 144-160
Upon completion of the scorecard, a VDOE Office of School Nutrition Programs team member will review all responses and supporting documentation to verify the total score. Schools that earn bronze, silver, and gold designations will receive a certificate and be included on the Governor's Scorecard on Nutrition and Physical Activity webpage.
Should you have any questions about completing the scorecard, please contact the VDOE Wellness Policy Specialist, Laura Burns, via email at laura.burns@doe.virginia.gov.