New research from Brookings uses administrative data from state departments of education to examine the effectiveness of free school meals for all students on school performance. With the uneven rollout of the Community Eligibility Provision between districts (whereby communities with high shares of free and reduced-price eligible students could eliminate applications and uniformly serve all students), the author was able to track changes in meal participation and student outcomes over time. She found that more students participate in school meals when meals are free, that free meals are linked with small improvements in math performance (greater increases among younger students and Hispanic students) and that schoolwide free meals are linked with lower numbers of suspensions among white male elementary students. #education #foodsecurity
