COVID-19 meal waivers reduced school meal barriers and increased participation, USDA study confirms

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) pandemic-era child nutrition meal waivers led to an increase in school meal participation and access during the pandemic, according to a new study by the USDA.

The study, which looked at school nutrition program operations from July 2020 through Dec. 2021, collected survey and administrative data from the 67 state agencies that administer federal child nutrition programs, which include the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Seamless Summer Option (SSO), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The second year of the study also included data from a survey of School Food Authorities (SFA) that was administered during spring 2022.

During the spring of 2020, the passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) allowed the USDA to issue a series of waivers aimed at keeping students fed during COVID-19. The waivers allowed schools to forgo meal pattern requirements (Meal Pattern Flexibility waiver) and serve meals to all children under 18 for free (SSO and SFSP Operations waiver). They also allowed parents and guardians to pick up meals for their children (Parent Guardian Pick Up waiver) and enable meals to be served outside of the typically required group settings and meal times (Meal Service Time Flexibility waiver and the Non- Congregate Meal Service waiver)

According to the study, a majority (90%) of SFAs used at least one of the waivers. The SSO and SFSP waiver was the most popular, with 68% of SFAs reporting that they utilized it.

The study also found that 90% of state agencies reported that the waivers increased school meal participation and reduced barriers to accessing school meals. In addition, by September 2021, the number of meals served through the NSLP, SBP, SSO, and SFSP programs had either matched or exceeded pre-pandemic monthly totals for October 2019 through February 2020.

This is the latest study to show that the waivers increased school meal access and participation. A study by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) also found that the number of students participating in school breakfast and lunch during the 2021–2022 school year when the waivers were still in effect was higher than that of pre-pandemic levels.

After the expiration of the waivers on June 30, 2022, many schools had to revert to charging for meals. An additional FRAC study found that meal participation dropped as a result. Since the waivers’ expiration, some states have taken it upon themselves to pass legislation implementing free meals at school to all students in their state.

Currently, nine states offer universal free school meal programs. School nutrition operators in those states have reported increased participation numbers.

See what states currently offer universal free meals using the map below: