100% TFS Toolkit – Steps to 100% TFS Policy Change for Parents and Community Activists

Conduct a policy assessment

Ask your school board for a copy of your school district's existing tobacco-use policy and study it closely. Find out if your school district's existing policy falls short by conducting this policy assessment. You can also get an overview of your policy by choosing your district on the home page 

Find and educate allies

Once you have completed the policy assessment, share the results with other likely allies. These may include members of the local PTA, representatives from the Student Health Advisory Council (SHAC) and others. The SHAC may be particularly useful because their recommendations go directly to the superintendent and the school board. School nurses, clergy and community health officials are potential allies. You can also circulate a petition in local schools, businesses and other public venues. This petition can help underscore what statewide polling already shows - that citizens throughout North Carolina overwhelmingly support 100% tobacco-free schools. 

Get a model 100% TFS policy

This 100% TFS Policy model policy template has been used throughout the state as the basis for many school district's policies. If your school district elects not to use the template, please remember that a comprehensive 100% TFS policy should:

  • Apply to all students, staff, visitors and contract workers 
  • Apply on all school grounds, vehicles, buildings and events 
  • Have a defined start date, ideally 6-12 months from the date of passage 
  • Outline implementation procedures for encouraging 100% TFS compliance 
  • Outline consequences for staff non-compliance 
  • Address Alternative to Suspension (ATS) programs for students who violate the policy 
  • Address resources for how to quit for students and staff 

Prepare for school board presentation

Once you have the model or your own draft policy, meet individually with members of the school board to educate them about the benefits of 100% tobacco-free schools. If a member is particularly supportive in this conversation, ask him/her to sponsor the measure. 

Become familiar with your school board's procedure for adopting new policies. Most school boards require that a proposed policy change be approved by their policy subcommittee before being considered by the full school board. Most school boards require two to three readings, or votes, before a policy is formally adopted. 

It is essential to work closely with your allies on the school board to gauge the likelihood of 100% TFS passage. Timing is crucial so this must be done in advance of the school board meeting. If it looks like the policy will be defeated, work with a supportive school board member to have discussion of the policy tabled, or postponed, until a more opportune time. 

Make sure you have completed the necessary forms to get onto the school board agenda and have provided key information to school board members in advance. Identify your spokespeople - students can be especially powerful advocates. Contact your community supporters to get them to attend the board presentation in support of the policy. 

Present the 100% TFS policy proposal to the school board 

Make your presentation to the school board concise, with a mixture of factual data and personal stories. If allowed, highlight brief positive statements from different stakeholders such as students, school personnel, health professionals and parents. 

In your presentation, thank school board members for the work they have already done to promote student health. 

One technique is to frame your board presentation as an opportunity to answer the arguments of those vocally opposed to the policy. For instance, if concerns about compliance have been raised, explain how easy policy implementation can be when it is communicated clearly and regularly.

Once the policy has passed...

Plan to implement the policy and promote compliance

Hold meetings with school officials to develop an implementation and compliance plan. The State Director of 100% Tobacco-Free Schools can hold workshops for your school district, if necessary. Emphasize the need for consistent messaging throughout the school district. Prepare for complaints about the policy and develop strategies for addressing those complaints. 

Communicate the policy

Remind the public of the policy through newspaper articles, reminders in school materials, letters to parents and other communication tools. Announcers at high school sporting events should frequently remind visitors of the school's 100% tobacco-free policy. Ideally, these reminders should occur at least before the game begins, during halftime and twice during the event.

Please note: The Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) provides free signs, stickers and other promotional materials to display on school grounds at each 100% TFS District. School districts that have recently passed a 100% TFS policy can contact the State Director of 100% Tobacco-Free Schools for details. 

Implement the policy

Be especially vigilant about promoting compliance during the first few months of the policy's implementation. Expect some resistance at first. Remind students and school personnel about local resources on how to quit. Place signs and other promotional materials prominently throughout school buildings and property. Use the innovative Tackle Smoking plan to enforce the policy at school sporting events. 

Evaluate the policy's effectiveness

Collect stories about the policy's effect on students and staff. Solicit feedback about the policy from members of the public, including visitors. Identify problems with compliance, implementation and communication and develop solutions.