Universal free meal policies routed through the Community Eligibility Provision push schools to spend at or below the federal reimbursement rate rather than on higher‑quality food. As states go universal, the $4.69 per‑lunch cap becomes the de facto ceiling, which can worsen menus and student diets despite higher participation.
— It reframes equity‑driven universalism as an incentive problem that can backfire on nutrition and budgets, informing how social benefits should be financed and targeted.
2025.09.17
90% relevant
The newsletter’s 'Bad Food for All' section explicitly argues that the Community Eligibility Provision expands free meals while giving schools little incentive to spend above the $4.69 reimbursement, leading to poorer food quality and knock‑on effects (diet, obesity, parental costs).
Chris Pope
2025.09.16
100% relevant
NSLP figures cited: $17 billion total, $4.69 per meal reimbursement, and nine states mandating universal free meals via CEP.
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