Water is a basic human need—something kids cannot live without. Because children spend so much time at school, having safe and appealing water available to them is critical for them to live healthier lives.
All kids–in every school in the United States–should have access to water at no charge in school.
When children don’t have enough water to drink, their health and their cognitive performance, particularly short-term memory, may suffer. And, when water is not available, children tend to consume more sugary drinks, which are linked to chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Throughout this toolkit, you’ll find information and resources that can help you advocate for school districts and schools to establish and implement policies that ensure kids have access to water at no cost throughout the school day as well as before and after school activities. Voices for Healthy Kids is committed to ensuring that all children get the water they need to thrive in school and in life.
The Little Rock School District just became the first school district in the nation to adopt a hydration policy. The measure allows students to bring water bottles with them into classrooms and it requires all new construction and major renovation projects that happen at schools to include water bottle filling stations in their blueprints.
