3 things to know about the state of after-school meals

The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) recently released its annual report on after-school nutrition programs. The latest compares after-school snack and supper participation during October 2019 and October 2020. Here are three key takeaways from the report.

1. Supper participation increased while after-school snack participation did the opposite

Just under 1.5 million children received supper at school on an average weekday in October 2020, a 2.6% increase compared to October 2019. After-school snack participation, however, decreased by 25% when comparing the two months.

2.  Four states have reached FRAC’s supper participation threshold

On an average weekday in October 2020, Maryland, California, Virginia and Oregon all served supper to at least 15 students for every 100 who were served free or reduced-price school lunch.

3. Six states increased supper participation by more than half

Virginia, Maryland, Arizona, Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Illinois upped after-school supper participation by over 50% from October 2019 to October 2020. Virginia saw the largest increase at 259%.