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Research ArticleArticles

Universal Access to Free School Meals and Student Achievement

Evidence from the Community Eligibility Provision

View ORCID ProfileKrista Ruffini
Journal of Human Resources, May 2022, 57 (3) 776-820; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.57.3.0518-9509R3
Krista Ruffini
Krista Ruffini is a Visiting Scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and an Assistant Professor at Georgetown University.
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Abstract

The school meals program is the largest nutritional assistance program for school-aged children. Whereas program eligibility historically was determined by family income, recent reforms allow schools to offer free meals to all students. This work evaluates the effect of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), the largest school-wide free meals program, on academic performance. I leverage within- and across-state variation in the timing of CEP participation and find universal free meals increases breakfast and lunch participation by 38 and 12 percent, respectively. Math performance improves in districts with baseline low free meal eligibility, particularly among racial/ethnic groups with low income-based participation rates.

JEL Classification:
  • I20
  • I38
  • I18
  • Received May 2018.
  • Accepted February 2020.

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Journal of Human Resources: 57 (3)
Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 57, Issue 3
1 May 2022
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Universal Access to Free School Meals and Student Achievement
Krista Ruffini
Journal of Human Resources May 2022, 57 (3) 776-820; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.57.3.0518-9509R3

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Universal Access to Free School Meals and Student Achievement
Krista Ruffini
Journal of Human Resources May 2022, 57 (3) 776-820; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.57.3.0518-9509R3
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Keywords

  • I20
  • I38
  • I18
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