Free Meals for All: The Effects of the Community Eligibility Provision Program in Tennessee

• In Event: 47.038 - Beyond Classroom Walls: Community Innovations to Support Education

Abstract

In 2014-15, Tennessee adopted the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), allowing schools and districts with large proportions of low-income students to receive free school meals for all students, regardless of family income. The program sought to ensure that all students had access to nutritious meals and to reduce the social stigma preventing students from participating. This study uses student-level administrative data in a comparative interrupted time series framework to evaluate the impact of CEP on various student outcomes. Results indicate that CEP decreased suspensions/expulsions by 1.2 percentage points. CEP also appeared to reduce stigma, leading to positive outcomes in on-time grade progression, discipline, and science test scores for these students.

Author

• Adam Kho, University of Southern California