School Food Programs' Impact on Childhood Food Security: Examining COVID-19 Social Policy, Schooling, and Childhood Hunger
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Date
2023-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Schools have been the subject of much research concerning their relationship with educational inequality. However, one aspect that has received less attention is the relationship between schools and other social services. During the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was much concern over the public's ability to access food, prompting a policy response. Food assistance programs in schools were expanded to ensure children had access to free lunches. However, due to school closure and subsequent changes in methods of instruction, participation in school lunch programs suffered. Whether or not a household receives food assistance from a school, and the relationship this has to child food security, are the central concepts of this analysis. By examining a new aspect of inequality in relation to schools, we can better understand the role schools play in diminishing inequalities beyond exclusively educational outcomes. The negative effects hunger has on childhood development have been well documented (e.g., Cook and Frank 2008), and combating childhood hunger is a crucial step toward reducing broader inequities. By documenting the relationship between these policies and childhood food security outcomes, we can better understand how public policy may be implemented in concert with schools to further reduce inequalities and improve outcomes for historically marginalized groups.
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Keywords
Childhood food security, National School Lunch Program, Sociology of Education, School-Community Partnerships