Hungry children can’t learn. They are less likely to excel, achieve, and succeed. Hungry children are more likely to be overweight or obese – the science supporting this paradox is plentiful and clear. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that 13 million children in the U.S. lived in food insecure homes at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A universal school meals program could ensure that every child has access to free nutritious meals at school, after school, during the summer and at child care through the child nutrition programs.
Why are universal school meals needed? Already-established programs, such as the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program, provide funding and support to school districts to serve nutritious breakfasts, lunches, and afterschool snacks. But there are gaps – many children who need free or reduced-price school meals are not enrolled or certified to receive them. Other existing supports, such as the Afterschool Nutrition Programs and the Summer Food Service Program, provide much-needed meals to some children outside of school hours, but too many kids miss out. Only 1 in 7 low-income children who participated in school lunch during the school year were able to receive a summer lunch in July 2019, and only half of that number were served afterschool suppers in October 2019.
Communities can also benefit when universal school meal programs are implemented. Schools would no longer have to struggle with the double-edged issue of unpaid school meal fees added to polarizing, and sometimes stigmatizing, policies designed to feed hungry children when gaps between need and compliance arise.
As part of COVID-19 pandemic relief, the USDA extended the universal free lunch program through the 2021-2022 school year. Bill sponsors believe that now is the time for universal meals to become a permanent reality, and they will work for the inclusion of the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021 in the upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization.
What does the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021 propose?
The proposed six key changes each take a major step in removing barriers and increasing children’s access to healthy meals at no charge to them or their families.
- School breakfast and lunch provided at no charge to all children. Not only would many more struggling families quality for free school meals, stigma would be reduced as all children would be served without regard to ability to pay. Many (reportedly 75% before the pandemic) school districts would be relieved of a significant financial burden.
- School breakfast and school lunch reimbursement rates would increase to rates recommended by the USDA in their April 2019 School Nutrition and Meal Cost Study.
- Afterschool and summer meals and snacks provided free of cost to all children no matter what percent of children in the area would be eligible for free or reduced price meals. The Act would also expand the number of daily meals eligible for reimbursement during the summer, on weekends, and during school holidays to the current number now allowed on a regular school day.
- Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) expanded to all low-income children. Families with children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals would receive a debit card preloaded with a monthly benefit of $60 per month per child to purchase food during summer months. This targeted proposal allows flexibility, and has been shown to be very effective in reducing very low food security in low-income families. It could be especially helpful in rural areas where access to summer meal sites may be lower.
- Child care meals expanded and reimbursement rates increased to child care sites. The maximum number of allowed meals per day would increase from two to three for child care centers and homes, ensuring that children’s nutritional needs are met while they are in care.
- Local foods incentive offered to schools purchasing at least 25% of foods within state lines or within 250 miles of the purchasing School Food Authority. The 30-cent per meal reimbursement would strengthen the connection schools have with their communities and local food producers.
Health means…reducing childhood hunger through Universal School Meals Programs.
Contributor: Sandy Procter
Learn more about the federal legislation that has been introduced in the Senate and the House.
