The Virginia Department of Education publishes annual data on eligibility for its National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Free and Reduced Price Eligibility Report. For the most recent reporting period ending October 31, 2009, the percentage of students in our area who are eligible to receive reduced or free lunches vary, from just over 21% for Stafford County Public Schools to 52% for Fredericksburg City Public Schools. (See below.)
According to the VDOE website, NLSP (a program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) “provides nutritionally balanced lunches to school-aged children.” Schools that participate “receive USDA cash subsidies and donated commodities for each meal served that meets federal nutrition standards – one third of daily recommended levels of protein, calcium, iron, vitamins A and C and calories” and in turn they “must provide free and reduced-price lunches to eligible children.”
Who is eligible for NLSP? Children whose family incomes are “at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced‐price meals, for which students can be charged no more than 40 cents. (For the period July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, 130 percent of the poverty level is $28,665 for a family of four; 185 percent is $40,793.) Children from families with incomes over 185 percent of poverty pay a full price, though their meals are still subsidized to some extent. Local school food authorities set their own prices for full-price (paid) meals, but must operate their meal services as non-profit programs.” (USDA NSLP Fact Sheet, undated)
School District | Percent of Students Eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch |
Caroline County Public Schools | 48.95% |
Fredericksburg City Public Schools | 52.3% |
King George County Public Schools | 26.91% |
Spotsylvania County Public Schools | 27.05% |
Stafford County Public Schools | 21.38% |
From the School Year 2009-2010 National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Free and Reduced Price Eligibility Report, Virginia Department of Education, Office of School Nutrition Programs (SNP) | |
Not only do these figures demonstrate the income challenges that many families face in our area, this program emphasizes the importance of food both in ensuring a good educational foundation for our children and their continued good health.
How does this issue affect you?
What ways can we support people with food insecurity outside of schools?
How are low incomes in our area affecting the ability of families to provide good food for our children as a basis for a quality education?
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3 comments:
It is shocking to see that over 50% of Fredericksburg city students qualify for free or reduced lunches! Something obviously needs to change in order to fix that!
My children have just qualified for Reduced lunch and it is a blessing. With being a single mother of 2, a new home owner, and taking a recent pay cut (to spend more time with my kids), this assistance was neccessary. If I am able to work locally, giving me more time at home with my children, i have more time to help them with thier school work, schedule and attend their doctor's appointments, and be their every morning to cook them breakfast prior to heading to work. There are many households with parents of 3, 4 and even 5 children, all paying $2.25 for Lunch alone. School Lunch is a huge expense, one that some can not afford to pay in its entirety and still be able to offer their children the quality of life they so deserve.
Yes, I agree that something should be done but where do we begin? It would be great to say that our goal is to increase household incomes but what can we do? One strategy would be to reduce unemployment but what leverage do we, as average citizens, have to increase jobs in our area? Local government officials would love to see unemployment reduced in our localities but first we must increase jobs. Attracting new business to the area is very difficult when most industries are reducing rather than expanding.
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