Schoolwide free-meal programs fuel better classroom outcomes for students

Even before the pandemic brought food insecurity to alarming levels, hunger and insufficient nutritional access were acute concerns for many families. In 2019, nearly 14% of families with children experienced food insecurity. Previous work has shown that greater nutritional assistance through programs like SNAP and the school meals program can reduce food insecurity and improve nutritional intake. Yet, prior work on how free school meals affect student performance has reached mixed conclusions. Brookings describes some new findings about the impact of free meals on students, using recent administrative changes that expanded schoolwide programs. #covid-19 #foodsecurity #education