Expanded School Meal Assistance Policies and Very Low Food Sufficiency Rates in Households With Children*

Abstract

Background

Children residing in households with very low food sufficiency (VLFS), where there is often not enough to eat, are more likely to experience academic, health, and psychological challenges. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a temporary universal free school meals (UFSM) policy was implemented, improving food access for children nationwide. When this national policy expired in June 2022, 12 states voluntarily implemented expanded school meal assistance policies (i.e., six continued UFSM, and six implemented alternative increased free school meals (IFSM) policies).

Methods

Using Household Pulse Survey data from academic years 2021–22 and 2022–23, along with difference-in-differences and triple differences approaches, we assess the impact of these voluntary state-level policies on VLFS rates.

Results

VLFS rates for households with children during the 2022–23 academic year were 0.42 percentage points, or approximately 16%, lower in UFSM or IFSM states as compared to households with children in states without such policies. Heterogeneity analyses revealed that VLFS rates for households with children were 0.55 percentage points lower in UFSM states and 0.30 percentage points lower in IFSM states.

Conclusions

These results inform contemporary school meal policy debates, demonstrating that both UFSM and IFSM policies can improve VLFS rates for households with children.