Child Nutrition

SNAP

Farm Bill

School Meals

It’s hard to learn when you’re hungry

Nutrition programs promote wellness and prepare students to learn. All students deserve healthy school meals.

Child nutrition programs are a key element in the fight against hunger among children.

Consumption of fruits and vegetables has increased since passage of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act in 2010.

Maintaining Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act nutrition standards is a key to student health and achievement.

Food service workers need ongoing professional development provided at no cost during regular, paid working hours.

Schools need updated kitchen equipment and infrastructure to serve healthy meals in a cost-effective way.

Take Action!

Support strong public schools by taking these actions today.

Provide Healthy School Meals to All Students

Learning takes concentration and energy, but students who are hungry don’t have the fuel their bodies need. We can fix this by providing healthy school meals to all students at no cost to them, ensuring that they are hunger-free and ready to learn.

Email your senators and representative and ask them to cosponsor the Universal School Meals Program Act of 2021 (S. 1350/H.R. 3115).

Support Child Nutrition Programs that Expand Access to Healthy School Meals

Congress is reauthorizing child nutrition programs including school meals. NEA’s priorities include expanding access to healthy school meals and out-of-of school time programs, and improved training and equipment for school food service workers.

Email your senators and representative and ask them to strengthen child nutrition programs.

Cosponsor the Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act (S. 1834/H.R. 2897)

School food service workers serve millions of meals each day, providing healthy, nutritious foods that fuel students’ minds and bodies. Yet, many of these professionals don’t have access to the training they need for this important work. The Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act would help make training available that maximizes hands-on opportunities during regular, paid working hours.

Email your senators and representative and ask them to cosponsor the Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act.

Bills in Congress

HR 3519

A bill to establish a permanent, nationwide electronic benefits transfer (EBT) program for children during school breaks and closures.

S 1831

A bill to establish a permanent, nationwide electronic benefits transfer (EBT) program for children during school breaks and closures.

HR 3115

A bill which would provide for the long-term with the most cost-effective and inclusive model for ensuring all students have access to nutritious meals without overwhelming barriers such as stigma, burdensome paperwork, or threats to have their children taken away.