Universal Free Meals and the Distribution of Student Achievement in the Post-Pandemic Era

• In Event: Perspectives on the Effects of Universal School Meal Programs on Students and Their Communities

Abstract

This paper evaluates the effects of universal free school meals (UFM) on the distribution of student achievement. Exploiting the timing of a pandemic-era USDA policy and data from Florida, I estimate UFM’s effects on reading and math achievement and chronic absenteeism. Consistent with recent work, I find no evidence of improvements in overall student performance; however, this result masks heterogeneity across the distribution of student achievement. Specifically, I find that UFM significantly reduces the proportion of students performing at both the lowest (inadequacy) and highest (mastery) levels. I argue that these adverse effects among top performers are consistent with peer and class size effects induced by increased attendance of lower-achieving students.

Author

• Garrison Pollard, University of Florida
  Presenting Author