America's schools say kids are hungry -- just as pandemic-era benefit programs have lapsed. There is growing concern about the effects on kids' ability to learn.
Congress temporarily made school meals free to all American schoolkids, but since that ended last fall, the need has only seemed to grow.
“Programs that provide direct food assistance are hugely critical and we are going to see the effects of not having them over the next couple of months,” said Megan Curran, policy director for Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy. Children in such households are more likely to struggle academically and repeat grade levels, among other challenges, according to researchers.
“It’s hard to focus in class when I’m hungry. Food helps me pay attention to what I’m learning,” said Fabian, 10. “We realized that a lot of our students were going straight to the playground and not going into the cafeteria to eat before school, from the 7 a.m. to 7:15 a.m. timeframe,” said Jessica Padilla, a sixth-grade math and science teacher.
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