Background
Facts and Impacts
Additional Resources

Background

Last year, lawmakers made a down payment on the promise of school meals when they eliminated the “co-pay” some low-income children paid for school lunch, but allocated funds were enough only to eliminate the co-pay in grades K through 3. This year, we call on lawmakers to finish the job by investing $4 million to eliminate the co-pay in pre-K and grades 4 through 12 as well.

End Childhood Hunger
Concerned organizations across the state, led by the Children’s Alliance, have embarked on a remarkable effort to end childhood hunger in Washington. Through a two-year planning project, the Children’s Alliance is working with individuals and organizations across the state to develop a blueprint for change – one that removes obstacles to participation in proven federal programs and gives parents the information they need to keep nutritious food on their tables and in their children’s bellies. School meals play a critical role, with the potential to ensure that all school-aged children get two solid meals per day.

Feed Hungry Schoolchildren
Eliminating the co-pay for low-income families is a proven strategy for boosting participation inschool meals programs. The lunch initiative builds on the effective action lawmakers took in 2006 when they eliminated the co-pay for reduced-price school breakfasts, resulting in a 36% increase in breakfasts served to students in the reduced-price category during the following school year. This increase translated into thousands more children across Washington State taking advantage of nutritious school meals. Eliminating the lunch “co-pay” will boost the number of children eating a healthy lunch by an estimated 12,500 low-income students and return about $4.6 million in added federal funds to school districts.

Improve Academic Performance
USDA research indicates that children who participate in School Lunch have superior nutritional intakes compared with those who do not participate. A well-nourished body makes for a well-nourished mind. Students who eat nutritious lunches are better able to focus in class and learn.

Facts and Impacts

Children who participate in the National School Lunch Program have higher average
intakes of many key nutrients, both at lunch and over 24 hours. They also have substantially lower intakes of added sugar and consume less soda than non-participants.- Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, 2001.