Published: March 2024

ID #: 283-5106

Publisher: Nourish Lab

Authors: Cohen J, Gosliner W, Hecht C, Hecht K, Schwartz M, Zuercher M, Ritchie L

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA waivers allowed all children in schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to receive school meals at no charge from March 2020 through June 2022. In 2022, Massachusetts implemented a Healthy School Meals for All (HSMFA) policy to continue to provide meals at no charge to all students. A sample selected to be representative of Massachusetts was recruited, and 284 households with school-aged children across Massachusetts were surveyed about the HSMFA policy. Overall, the majority (84%) of families in Massachusetts‒ across all income brackets‒ reported that school meals should be free for all students. Similarly, the majority (≥80%) of families reported that Massachusetts’ HSMFA policy saved their family money and time and reduced stress, and that HSMFA improved student behavior and academic achievement. When asked about the impact of ending the state’s HSMFA policy, roughly two thirds of households that were near eligible for free or reduced-priced meals and roughly a third of middle class households reported their ability to have enough food for their household would be hurt if school meals were not free for all families. Lastly, survey results indicated that when school meals are provided at no cost for all children, children are not embarrassed to eat them, but this stigma would likely return if this policy ended: 42% of families with children eligible for free or reduced-priced meals reported their child would be less likely to eat a school meal next year if it was not free for all children.

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