School Lunch Program

Jason Cox, Matthew Missler, David Schwartz, Stephanie Welch

Background

• Officially enacted into law in 1946

• Started because of depression– Malnourished students– War- needed students strong so they

could fight– Surplus of farm products

Program Today

• Operates in 99,800 schools

• Provides meals to 26 million children daily

• How it works….

Eligibility for Free & Reduced Lunches

• Uses the federal poverty guidelines, which are adjusted each year

• Families at 185% of poverty level receive reduced price ($.40 cents)

• Families at 130% of poverty level receives free lunches

• Income is generally not verified, although it could be audited at any time

• “Direct Certification” is now being used for about 20% of children (using data files for other food assistance files) – this reduces paper work.

Elementary School vs. % Free Lunch

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Elementary School

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High School vs. % Free Lunches

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Allen East Bath Lima Perry Shawnee Bluffton

High School

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Reimbursement Rates2003-2004

• Lunch: for each meal– Free: $2.19 - $2.36– Reduced: $1.79 - $1.96– Full Pay: $.21 - $.29

**Only way they get this reimbursement is if they meet nutrition requirements

Nutrition Requirements

• Provide 1/3 of the RDA for protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, calcium, and Kcal

• No more than 30% of Kcal from fat, and less than 10% from saturated fat

• Decisions about specific foods and how they are prepared are made by the local school.

New Technology/Programs

• Systems to maintain confidentiality

- Bluffton’s program

- computer system

• Breakfast program

• Snack program

• Possible dinner program

Breakfast Program

• It is separate but similar to the national school lunch program

• Both programs must be open to all enrolled children- if a child already qualifies for free or reduced price lunches, then the child would also qualify for free or reduced price breakfast.

• The school breakfast program is voluntary for most schools

• Schools where 40% or more of their students qualify for free or reduced lunches are mandated to have a breakfast program.

Snack/Dinner Programs

• Schools can receive reimbursements for snack programs.

• Eligibility for reimbursement must have 50% or more on free or reduced lunches

• program must also include educational activities based on nutrition.

• Must meet nutrition requirements.www.doe.mass.edu

• Dinner programs are in speculation right now.

Benefits• Statistics show that these

students receive higher test scores, decreased absenteeism, tardiness, and discipline. (in reference to breakfast and snack programs).

• These programs provide a way to avoid hunger due to working parents, long bus rides, or the inability of families to provide enough food.

• Students do receive better nutrition based on the fact that food is provided, and they are not just eating less nutritious food to get rid of hunger pains.

Controversial Issues

• Actual nutrition value

Controversial issues cont…

• Pricing for smaller schools

Revenue/Student Expenditure/Student

5496 5667

7252 6952

7252 6952

7252 6952

7252 6952

7252 6952

5809 5663

5496 5667

7252 6952

7252 6952

7252 6952

7252 6952

7252 6952

5517 7645

School

Maplewood

Unity

Westwood

Whittier

Irving

Lowell

Bath

Elmwood

Emerson

Faurot

Freedom

Heritage

Horace Mann

Bluffton

Controversial issues cont…

• Pricing for students at schools with a high percentage of students of free/reduced lunches.

Controversial issues cont…

• Eligibility- is it strict enough or not??