GAO finds decline in school meal participation, but reasons are unclear
March 03, 2014 | 03:59 PM
Nationwide, student participation in the National School Lunch Program declined by 1.2 million students (or 3.7 percent) from school year 2010-11 through school year 2012-13, but there were many nuances about that decline, the Government Accountability Office said in a study released late last week.
The decrease was driven primarily by a decrease of 1.6 million students paying full price for meals. That decrease has been going on since school year 2007-08 but the largest decline — 10 percent — occurred in school year 2012-13, the study found.
The number of students who receive free meals increased, but that increase was smaller in 2012-13 than in the previous years. The number of students eligible for free meals has risen during the recession, GAO noted.
GAO said that the changes in school meal patterns due to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act also played a role in the decline in participation in the program, but that several school food service directors said they believe that participation will increase as students adjust to the new food items.
GAO recommended that USDA clarify the documentation of compliance requirements and systematically assess states’ need for information on the program.
GAO did not recommend any changes to the meal requirements that USDA has put in place.
The decrease was driven primarily by a decrease of 1.6 million students paying full price for meals. That decrease has been going on since school year 2007-08 but the largest decline — 10 percent — occurred in school year 2012-13, the study found.
The number of students who receive free meals increased, but that increase was smaller in 2012-13 than in the previous years. The number of students eligible for free meals has risen during the recession, GAO noted.
GAO said that the changes in school meal patterns due to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act also played a role in the decline in participation in the program, but that several school food service directors said they believe that participation will increase as students adjust to the new food items.
GAO recommended that USDA clarify the documentation of compliance requirements and systematically assess states’ need for information on the program.
GAO did not recommend any changes to the meal requirements that USDA has put in place.
