MAKING HIGH-POVERTY SCHOOLS HUNGER FREE

With nearly 16 million children in households that have trouble affording enough nutritious food at some point during the year, several states are taking advantage of a new federal option to reduce hunger and streamline their school meal programs. The new option, known as community eligibility, allows schools or school districts where the vast majority of students are poor enough to qualify for free or reduced-price meals to serve free breakfasts and lunches to all children. Over the past two years, seven states have adopted community eligibility in more than 2,200 high-poverty schools serving nearly 1 million children.

 

Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Hunger-Free Schools