School Lunch for All

Adrienne & Michaela

The “K” and “W”
What we KNOW What we WANT to Know

● Established in 1946 ● Why was this act put into place? What was
● Children through age 18 can receive the reasoning behind it?
low-cost or free lunches ● How is a student able to access low-cost
● Provides nutritionally balanced lunches to or free lunches? What are the
children each school day requirements for eligibility?
● How does the program work?
● Is school lunch for all available at every
school?
Key Figure
● President Harry Truman
○ 33rd President of the U.S. from 1945-1953
● Signed by President Truman on June 4,
1946
● He did so largely in response to the
number of WWII recruits that were
rejected due to malnutrition.
● As well as to “safeguard the health and
well-being of the Nation's children and to “Today, as I sign the National School Lunch Act,
encourage the domestic consumption of I feel that the Congress has acted with great
nutritious agricultural commodities and
wisdom in providing the basis for strengthening
other foods.”
the nation through better nutrition for our
school children.”
21st century key figure =
Political Underpinnings
● Many people claimed that American men had been rejected for WWII military
service because of health related issues.
● MAIN GOAL: to promote the health and well-being of the nation’s children
○ “no nation is any healthier than its children” - President H. Truman (1946)
Eligibility Guidelines
● Low-income children are eligible to receive reduced-price or free meals at school.
○ Children in households with incomes below 130 percent of the Federal poverty level qualify for free
meals.
○ Those with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the Federal poverty level qualify for
reduced-price meals. Schools may not charge children more than 40 cents for a reduced price lunch.
○ Based on their status as a homeless, migrant, runaway, or foster child.
● Children can qualify for free or reduced price school meals through participation
in certain Federal Assistance Programs.
○ Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
○ Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
● Children enrolled in a federally-funded Head Start Program are also “categorically
eligible” for free meals.
How NSLP Works
● Federal Level
○ Administered by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service
● State Level
○ Administered through state agencies that operate the program through agreements with
school authorities
● School Level
○ Operates in participating public and non-profit private schools
○ Receive cash subsidies and USDA Foods for each reimbursable meal they serve
What does this mean for teachers?
● Every student has access to a nutritional lunch by law.
○ Teachers do not have to worry about feeding the students
● Although the NSLP has been deemed successful, it has caused quite a bit of
controversy between the food and beverage industry and school
administration which includes, teachers, parents, and children.
○ School administration is concerned with the quality of food that is being provided seeing as
more than half of the population in the United States, especially children, are either
overweight or obese.
More about this Act
● How it started…
○ In the midst of WWII, the worsening economy and lack of funds affected school lunch
programs. Advocates realized that legislation providing consistent federal aid to support the
programs was required, so the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) was launched under
the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.
● How it’s going…
○ Ever since the program began, more than 187 billion lunches have been served. The USDA
indicates that about 7.1 million children benefited from NSLP in its very first year.
The “L”
● School lunches have always had the opportunity of being provided, but
because they were not federally mandated, the funding for them often got cut
and low income students were not able to eat.
● The NSLP is required to provide one-third of the daily calorie, protein,
calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin E needs for participants through foods
provided at lunch.
● Over 1 in 5 children in the U.S. live in a household with a food shortage. The
NSLP allows them to achieve healthy development and long-term health
outcomes.