What is the current status of School Meals for All?

USDA rules allowing all children to receive free school meals during the pandemic have been extended through June 30, 2022, extending healthy school meals free for all for one more school year. School Meals for All bills have been introduced this year in both California (SB 364) and nationally (The Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021). In addition to providing School Meals for All, both the state and federal bills provide extra funds for locally sourced foods and would establish an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) supplement for low-income families when schools aren’t serving meals. 

Why does School Meals for All matter?

School Meals for All supports children’s nutrition, health and reduces waste

• Consistent with Nutrition Policy Institute (NPI) research from 2016 and 2018, a recent study found that in 2018, schools were the single healthiest source of US food consumed by children.
   
• A systematic review of studies in schools in developed countries that provide free meals for all students showed that such a program improves children’s diet quality, attendance rates, academic performance, and increases participation in school lunch without leading to an increase in student body mass index (BMI).
   
• An observational study of school meal periods found when children don’t have to stand in line to pay for meals, they gain more time to eat. More time to eat means children eat more lunch (especially the healthiest items) and waste less food.
   
• During the pandemic, NPI worked closely with two community-based organizations in the San Joaquin Valley, Cultiva La Salud and the Dolores Huerta Foundation, and Stanford University researchers. Through parent focus groups and a PhotoVoice project, we learned how parents feel about school meals, fresh and unprocessed food, and an EBT supplement when schools aren’t serving meals.

School Meals for All supports efficient school nutrition programs

• A new evaluation shows how providing free meals for all students can reduce meal costs through lower administrative burden and economies of scale, without sacrificing nutritional quality of meals.
   
• Studies also suggest that the increased cost of providing free meals to all students is balanced by higher federal reimbursement because of increased meal participation.
   
• By reducing administrative burden on school food service staff, providing a steady budget for school food service programs so they may remain fiscally solvent, and eliminating unpaid meal balances, School Meals for All allows programs to focus on their primary function: feeding children healthy meals.

 
School Meals for All strengthens equity

• When all children have access to healthy school meals in the same way, it removes stigma from children participating in the school meal programs, provides equitable access to healthy meals, and eliminates shaming procedures that some schools practice when dealing with children whose parents have not paid for the meals.
   
• School Meals for All ensures that vulnerable children—those on the edges of school meal free or reduced-price eligibility, who are experiencing homelessness, have recently immigrated, have caregivers who may struggle with administrative paperwork, are in foster care, or may have an eligibility status that fluctuates due to the current unstable economy—do not fall through the cracks.

School Meals for All supports local farmers

• Both the California and federal legislation would provide school food authorities with an additional payment for locally sourced food. The federal bill would provide an additional reimbursement of up to 30¢ per meal if at least 25% of food is from local sources. CA SB 364 would establish a non-competitive grant program to support the purchase of California-grown or produced food.
   
• The 2015 national Farm to School Census showed that school districts are increasingly a market for local fruits and vegetables, as well as local dairy and baked goods. Further, economic impact studies find that every dollar spent on local food generates as much as an additional $2.16 in local economic activity.

What can you do to help?   

You can make your voice heard and you can build civic engagement by helping others to do the same!

1. Start by reading these 10 Reasons to Support Healthy School Meals for All.

2. Follow activities in Sacramento and Washington, DC.
Online legislation trackers make it easy to see bill authors and co-sponsors, read bill language, and see where a bill is in the legislative process.

• California legislation tracker
   
• Federal legislation trackers: GovTrack.us and Congress.gov

3. Communicate with elected representatives.

• You can learn who your elected representatives are, and get contact information, here.
   
• Your representatives appreciate learning about constituent needs and concerns. Data are always of interest. Any legislative office can help you connect with the staffer responsible for a given issue area.

4. Engage with your local school district.

• Check that your district is taking advantage of all available federal food programs (School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Summer Food Service Program, and Afterschool Snack Program).
   
• Join your school wellness committee to help inform policy and policy implementation in your school.
   
• Let your school food service team know you appreciate them and their work—especially during the pandemic!

• New NPI resource provides information on safe reopening of building plumbing following pandemic closures
   
• NPI researchers partner with California Health Departments to share COVID-19 pandemic successes
   
• New toolkit from Feeding America provides guidance on how to develop a food bank nutrition policy developed by NPI
   
• New interactive roadmap for Indigenous communities to support increased healthy beverage consumption and reduced sugar-sweetened beverages
   
• Commentary in JAMA Pediatrics on the importance of body mass index assessment and surveillance in schools
   
• Call for manuscript submissions: IJERPH Special Issue on Improving School Nutrition