Examining the Reach of Universal School Meals in California
“School meals have long played a key role in promoting students’ physical well-being, and California became the first state to provide free school meals to all children regardless of income in 2022–23. At the start of a new academic year, how are California’s school nutrition programs faring? While the total number of meals served matches pre-pandemic levels, low-income students are now eating fewer school meals compared to before the pandemic. Exploring ways to expand participation among this group will be important as the state works to refine implementation of universal school meals.”