School Nutrition Services (SNS) Research

Publication: American Educational Research Journal

Date Published: January 2024

Reference:

Domina, T., Clark, L., Radsky, V., & Bhaskar, R. (2024). There is such a thing as a free lunch: School meals, stigma, and student discipline. American Educational Research Journal, 61(2), 287–327. https://doi.org/10.3102/00028312231222266

Key Takeaways: The findings provide strong evidence that universal free school meal programs reduce stigma. This reduction in stigma is associated with improved student behavior, including decreases in disciplinary incidents such as suspensions and referrals. The findings also provide insight into how universal meals contribute to a more inclusive and positive school climate, where students feel more comfortable and social divisions are minimized. Importantly, the findings provide a broader understanding of the impact of school meals beyond nutrition, highlighting meaningful effects on student well-being, behavior, and social dynamics. Overall, the findings provide compelling support for policies that expand access to free school meals, demonstrating that such programs can improve both student experience and school environments.