The Connecticut Department of Education (CSDE), through the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs provides reimbursements for free and reduced price lunches and breakfasts served to children in public and private non-profit schools, as well as select residential child care institutions. Connecticut’s student body is composed of more low-income students than ever before. Despite maintaining one of the lowest rates in the United States, Connecticut data has shown a gradual increase in the percentage of children who re utilizing these programs between 2005 and 2014. The percentage of eligible students rose in 2014 to an all-time high of 37.7 percent. The CSDE uses eligibility for free or reduced price meals under the Child Nutrition Programs (i.e., school lunch and school breakfast) as an indicator of poverty. Federal Child Nutrition Program eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is determined by the total income and size of the household. If a child’s family income is below 130 percent of the federal poverty level, the child qualifies for free meals. For those families whose income is between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level, the child qualifies for reduced-price meals.

The increase in eligible children is partially due to shifting demographics. Based upon data from 2014, cities, which are a part of the growing segments of the highest rates of eligibility, whereas smaller towns have some of the lowest rates in Connecticut. These trends correlate with higher rates of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients, participation in summer meal programs, and local unemployment rates.

Children who are eligible for free or reduced lunches come from families with significant economic hardships, who often find it difficult to afford not just food, but also basic schools supplies. Additionally, parents in these families may be unavailable to provide help with school work. As a result, while the trend for on time graduation of students with free or reduced lunches has been favorable, they still lag behind their non-eligible peers. Despite the incentive of free or reduced price meals for eligible students, they lag behind in attendance as well. Students who are eligible have been noted as being three times more likely to be chronically absent than those who are not eligible. And multiple sources have stated that, there has been a constant stigma placed on students who receive free/reduced lunches that affects their personal environment and social interactions while in school. A positive impact of the implementation of free and reduced lunch programs with strong nutritional standards is a reduction in childhood obesity rates.

As part of the implementation of the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, Connecticut implemented the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) in the 2013-2014 school year. The CEP eliminates the need to issue, collect, enter and analyze applications from every family. This streamlines the process for the district and eliminates the paperwork burden on families. In lieu of collecting applications, the CEP allows districts to use data from other sources to determine eligibility. States implementing the CEP in the 2012 pilot year have shown significant increases in school attendance among low-income students.

In 2006, as part of the Healthy Foods Initiative passed the CSDE developed the Connecticut Nutrition Standards for foods sold in schools. The CSDE regularly updates these standards and maintains a list of foods that comply. The standards include: moderating calories, limiting fat, saturated fat, sodium and sugars, eliminating trans-fat, and promoting more nutrient-dense foods.

Under the Connecticut Healthy Foods Initiative, schools agreeing to comply with the Connecticut Nutrition Standards for all food sold during the school day receive an additional 10-cents per meal reimbursement from the state. This additional funding can mean the difference regarding a districts financial ability to continue participating in the Child Nutrition Programs.

• Food Research and Action Center
• Department of Education
• End Hunger CT!
• UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity
• CT Food Bank
• United Way of Connecticut

• Explore Direct Certification and Categorical Eligibility – free meals without paper applications.
• Conduct an application campaign at the start of the school year to ensure that all eligible children are enrolled.
• Provide frequent outreach throughout the year to encourage families to apply for free or reduced-price meals.
• Providing universal, free meals to all children in schools with high percentages of free and reduced-price students.
• Maximize participation in school breakfast by eligible children.

Strategies collected from the Food and Resource Action Center (FRAC)