National School Lunch Programs

The National School Lunch Program was intended to provide nutritional and affordable sustenance for all children at public schools, care homes and some private schools (those which were constituted to be non-profit making). It was instituted by Act of Congress in 1946, signed into law by the then President, Harry S. Truman. The program is assisted financially by the Federal Government and provides well-balanced nutrition for approaching twenty seven million children under eighteen years of age in nearly one hundred thousand schools across the country. In 2004, the program was extended to provide light snacks in after-school educational institutions.

The school lunch program is administered at National school lunch level by the Food and Nutrition Service and then at State level, usually by the State's educational service, in co-operation with the schools' food authorities. The schools that operate the program receive financial subsidies and are given commodities by the United States Department of Agriculture for each meal they serve. It is their responsibility then to serve meals that meet Federal requirements to all students and to provide free or reduced price meals to those children who are eligible to receive them. The objective of the program has always been to ensure that all children of school age have the opportunity to take a meal and that none are excluded by virtue of cost.

The subsidies vary according to the income of the student's family ranging from minimal levels to one hundred per cent reduction - that level only applies to students whose family income falls at or below one hundred thirty per cent of the National Poverty Level. Only children whose family income exceeds one hundred eighty five per cent of National Poverty Level need pay the full price for their lunches.

School lunch authorities are reimbursed on the basis of each meal served through the school lunch program, but they are, in any case, expected to run their meal services on a not-for-profit basis. The nutritional values of the meals offered under the School Meals Program are strictly monitored within the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The levels of fat content are particularly scrutinized, but levels of vitamins A and C, proteins and certain mineral contents are covered too. Generally, one third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances are expected to be included. The specific food content of the meals, as well as production methods, is decided by the individual school authorities within the program's objectives.

There are a variety of initiatives and entitlements in place to help schools meet their obligations of quality under the school lunch program and to help them do so within financial their limitations. Schools may receive commodity foods known as "entitlement foods" at a rate of seventeen and one quarter cents per meal and, in addition, bonus allocations when agricultural surpluses make them available. The States are responsible for selecting the "entitlement foods" and they vary according to geographical and market conditions.

There is also in operation a very successful arrangement with the Department of Defense to supply food sourced through their channels and arrangements with local farmers who can supply fresh produce at good prices. Some schools are now operating a scheme for breakfasts - there has been research results published which show that children who've had full breakfasts perform better in their studies and have better attention spans. In general, the National School Meals Program has been a success over nearly half a century and has done what it set out to do.