The National School Lunch Program provides federally assisted meals to over 100,000 public and private schools. It gives low-cost or free lunches to children and snacks to afterschool programs. Schools receive cash subsidies and USDA foods for each meal served, as long as they meet federal nutrition standards. Children from low-income families qualify for free meals, while those from moderately low-income families qualify for reduced-price meals. Over the years the program has grown from serving 7.1 million children in 1946 to 31.6 million in 2012. Studies show improved nutrition from the program may boost test scores and educational outcomes.

1. NATIONAL SCHOOL
LUNCH PROGRAM
Nizhoni Jacob (Nutrition Student-
Arizona State University)

2. WHAT IS THE NATIONAL SCHOOL
LUNCH PROGRAM?
 Federally assisted meal program, assisting over 100,000 public
and non profit private schools and child care institutions.
 Provides Low-Cost or Free lunches to children
 Includes snacks served to children in afterschool programs
 The program at state level is administered by education agencies
that operate the program through agreements with school food
authorities

3. HOW DOES THE NATIONAL SCHOOL
LUNCH PROGRAM WORK?
 School Districts and independent schools get cash subsidies and
USDA foods from the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) for
each meal they serve.
 The participating schools must serve lunches that meet Federal
requirements.
 The participating schools must also offer free or reduced price
lunches to eligible children (snacks are also reimbursable for after
school programs)

4. WHAT ARE THE NUTRITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL
LUNCHES?
 Meals must meet the nutrition standards based on the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans.
 This includes an increase of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
on the lunch menu.
 Dietary specifications are set to ensure appropriate meals per age
groups K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

5. WHAT ARE THE NUTRITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR SCHOOL
LUNCHES? CONT..
 Reduced Sodium targets must also be met and vary from year to
year, gradually reducing sodium content dramatically on the lunch
menu.
 School MUST meet these requirements, BUT decisions about the
specific foods to serve and how they are prepared are made by
local school food authorities.

6. HOW DO CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR
FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS?
 All children are eligible to purchase a meal through the program.
 Children from low income families at 130% or below poverty level
are eligible fro free meals.
 Children 130% - 185% of the poverty level are eligible for
reduced-priced meals (40 cents).
 130% of the current poverty level is $30,615 for a family of four.
 185% of the current poverty level is $43,568 for a family of four.

7. HOW DO CHILDREN QUALIFY FOR
FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS?
 Families with incomes over 185% pay full price, BUT the meals
are still subsidized to some extent
 Non-profit pricing set by local food authorities, which are still a lot
less expensive!
 After school snacks are provided to children on the same income
eligibility

8. HOW MUCH REIMBURSEMENT DO
SCHOOLS GET?
 Most support from USDA comes in the form of a cash
reimbursement for each meal served.
 Current basic cash reimbursement rates if serving less than 60%
free and reduced lunches.
Free Lunches Reduced-Price Paid Lunch
$2.93 $2.53 $0.28
Free Snacks Reduced Snacks Paid Snacks
$0.80 $0.40 $0.07

9. HOW MUCH REIMBURSEMENT DO
SCHOOLS GET? CONT…
 If you comply with the requirements made for meals, you will
receive an additional 6 cents of cash reimbursement for each
meal!
 Latest Reimbursement Rates:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/rates-reimbursement

10. WHAT OTHER SUPPORT DO SCHOOLS
GET FROM USDA?
 Not only Cash reimbursement is available! Schools are also
entitled by law to receive USDA foods or “entitlement” foods.
 Value of these foods are $0.23-$0.25 cents per meal served.
 Bonus foods are also available from surplus stock.
 Training and assistance is available to help food service staff
prepare healthy meals through nutrition education. This includes
nutrition education to students as well.

11. WHAT TYPES OF FOODS DO SCHOOLS
GET FROM USDA?
 Each state can select “entitlement” foods for their schools from a
list provided by the USDA.
 Bonus foods are offered as they become available.
 USDA and Department of Defense has helped provide fresh
produce from local farmers through this program.

12. HOW MANY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN
SERVED OVER THE YEARS?
1946 National School Lunch Program Started
1946 7.1 million participants
1970 22 million participants
2012 31.6 million participants

13. HEALTHIER FOOD, HEALTHIER TEST
SCORES?
 Recent study of the National School Lunch Program found that
long-term positive effects on educational outcomes increase.
 This program is not just for low-income children. But for schools
to offer better quality foods for all children to enjoy.
 Thus, with better quality foods, more fruits and vegetables.
Students test scores will increase.

14. HEALTHIER FOOD, HEALTHIER TEST
SCORES? CONT…
 According to the Economics of Education Review, a study was
conducted to see how school lunch and breakfast, regardless of
income impacted test scores and overall participation, attendance
and academic achievement.
 In this study (school in New York) all children were participating in
the National School lunch program. And due to the programs
requirements of food choices, the meals were nutritious and better
quality than what was previously being given by the district.

15. CONCLUDING
 The National School Lunch Program will benefit not only low
income children to have healthy meals, but all children who are in
a school who participates in the program.
 The requirements of the program ensure that healthy food is only
allowed in the school, thus increasing academic achievement and
personal health.

16. WORKS CITED
Leos-Urbel, J., Ellen Schwartz, A., Weinstein, M., & Corcoran, S. (2013). Not just for poor kids: The impact of
universal free
school breakfast on meal participation and student outcomes. Economics of Education Review, 36,
88-107.
National School Lunch Program (NSLP). (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2015,
from http://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp/national-school-lunch-program-nslp.