RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Universal Access to Free School Meals and Student Achievement
JF Journal of Human Resources
JO J Hum Resour
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 776
OP 820
DO 10.3368/jhr.57.3.0518-9509R3
VO 57
IS 3
A1 Krista Ruffini
YR 2022
UL http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/57/3/776.abstract
AB 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.