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Addressing Food Insecurity in School Settings

This model addresses food insecurity by expanding access to free or reduced-priced meals, within schools and outside of school hours.

Food assistance programs reimburse schools for meals provided to children of low-income families. These programs decrease the amount of time between meals for enrolled students with low food access and/or food insecurity at home. Providing nutritious meals and snacks can help students retain the information learned during the school day. These programs often come with federal requirements about the types of food reimbursed and who can receive free or reduced-price meals.

School Breakfast

School breakfast programs provide a first meal for enrolled students. School breakfast has been shown to increase attendance, decrease tardiness, and provide quality nutrition to students who may not have eaten since lunch the day before. Breakfast can be offered before school, in the classroom after the first bell, or at a specified break time during the school day.

The design of school breakfast programs differs with the needs and resources of the school and the community. This meal can be federally reimbursed and qualifies for free and reduced pricing structures. Several states provide universal free breakfast to all students, often funded through a combination of state and federal funding. Learn more about the federal School Breakfast Program.

School Lunch

School lunch programs are a mainstay in meeting the food needs of rural school-aged children during the school year. While the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) supports free or reduced-priced lunches to enrolled students in participating schools, program implementation varies across states, with some states providing free lunches to all students regardless of income.

Afterschool Meals

Afterschool meals are provided after the school day but during a supervised, educational activity. Afterschool meals vary in portion size, ranging from snacks to larger portions. Afterschool meals are normally implemented through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). CACFP is a federal program that allows schools and other local agencies to provide a meal to students after the school day ends. Programs are eligible for CACFP if:

  • They participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
  • At least 50% of students in the attendance areas are eligible for free or reduced-price meals
  • Meals follow nutritional guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture

Backpack Food Program Models

Backpack food programs aim to close the gap in meals for children between Friday lunch and Monday breakfast by offering food to families over weekends and longer school breaks. Backpack programs are typically implemented with assistance from a sponsor, such as a food bank or local business. Sponsors can provide supplies, administrative support, and/or financial assistance. Most large food banks, such as Feeding America branches, have backpack food programs and might consider expanding their programs to reach smaller, rural schools in their area. Eligibility is determined by the school or program coordinator and is usually based on faculty and staff reports of hunger and household food insecurity.

Summer Meals

Through the federal SUN Meals (Summer Food Service Program), lunches are provided to students at little or no cost during summer break. This program increases access to food for students who rely on school meals. The summer food program operates similarly to the school lunch program and school breakfast program, with schools receiving reimbursement from the federal government for eligible foods. Many variations of this model exist. Some schools connect with other rural schools in the area and set up a mobile summer food truck. Communities can also partner with food banks to help implement the program. Each state has a designated agency (usually the state agriculture or education department) with state-specific requirements for operating the program.

School Food Pantries

Food pantries, also known as food shelves, provide food for people who struggle to afford groceries. In this model, schools provide a dedicated space for a food pantry. The school stocks shelf-stable foods, fruits, and vegetables to help people receive necessary food in a confidential manner. The pantry is accessible to eligible students, families, faculty, and staff during the school year, and food is provided at no charge. Pantries in middle and high schools can help keep students in school by reducing pressure to work full time and support their family's food and financial needs. School food pantries provide a convenient and accessible location, which saves students and families time and money by reducing travel time and logistical challenges of accessing food in other locations.

Farm to School Models

Farm to School is a national program focused on increasing the availability of local, fresh, and healthy foods in schools. The structure of Farm to School programs varies, but each program contains at least one of the three main components:

  • Students involved in school gardens
  • Cafeterias purchasing food from local farmers
  • Healthy eating curriculum in classes

Examples of Rural School-Based Food Assistance Programs for Improving Food Insecurity

  • The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a meal service option that allows schools to provide breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost. Schools are eligible for CEP if at least 40% of students are certified for free meals without applying through household applications, such as being from a household with SNAP or WIC. In 2015, Hoquiam School District in Grays Harbor County, Washington implemented a breakfast model to serve more students breakfast every morning. The district's three elementary schools now serve breakfast in classrooms after the first bell, serving nearly 400 more breakfasts per month. The high school also offers a "second chance" breakfast between first and second period for students that may have missed the first breakfast. Additionally, through CEP, all elementary and middle school students are offered free breakfast and lunch. This removes "lunch debt", reduces administrative burden, and increases food consumption among students. Using a combination of models, Hoquiam School District feeds more students and keeps down operation costs.
  • For nearly 40 years, Florida Impact has helped communities across Florida access and implement federally funded child nutrition programs. The goal is to support organizations and establish sustainable food programs. Florida Impact works with and promotes collaboration among community members and organizations. It has helped increase the number of federally reimbursable meals served through organizations that already serve children. Florida Impact works with rural and urban communities in every region of the state, and its state and federal advocacy has made it easier to feed children all year long.

Implementation Considerations

One challenge rural school districts may experience with school-based food programs is higher costs. Compared to urban areas, schools in rural districts often have smaller student populations, leading to lower food purchasing volume, which increases the cost associated with each meal. Operational challenges also exist, as school-based food programs often require adequate space, administrative support, confidentiality, and training for staff and faculty. In rural communities, limited staff size and capacity can hinder program development, implementation, and promotion. For example, breakfast programs require staff, such as food service workers, to arrive early, and bus schedules may need adjustment. In addition, longer travel times for students in rural areas may reduce the time available to participate before the school day begins, potentially decreasing overall participation in school-based food programs.

Rural programs are implementing innovative approaches to address these challenges. To lower costs and increase access, some rural school districts have created purchasing cooperatives and formed partnerships with rural businesses to source food. To address travel time issues, programs can implement Breakfast in the Classroom, which allows students to eat in the classroom after arrival, without requiring changes to bus schedules and arrival times. In addition, Farm to School initiatives support use of local and fresh menu options. These programs are often supported by grants and funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and state and local organizations, which offer training, implementation, planning, and support services. One common approach for rural schools is to upgrade outdated appliances or to purchase salad bar equipment. Both of those opportunities make it easier to prepare and serve fresh fruits and vegetables every day.

Resources to Learn More

Food Assistance Programs
Website
Shares links to food and nutrition assistance programs funded by the federal government, as well as nutrition information and a searchable food bank directory.
Organization(s): U.S. Department of Agriculture

Rural Hunger
Website
Provides resources and additional information about hunger in rural areas. Includes an interactive mapping tool showing participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Organization(s): Food Research & Action Center

Rural Schools: Challenges and Opportunities for School Meal Programs
Document
Describes school meal program operational characteristics, challenges impacting implementation, and opportunities for innovative approaches to address food insecurity in a school setting.
Organization(s): Healthy Eating Research
Date: 11/2021

SNAP State Directory of Resources
Directory
Shares state-specific information and instructions on how to apply for SNAP benefits. For states that allow electronic submission, direct links to the online application are available.
Organization(s): Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) Administration Guide
Website
Shares links to detailed guidebooks, handbooks, and other technical assistance resources for developing, implementing, and operating the USDA's Summer Food Service Program.
Organization(s): Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture