Letter
USCCB Letter to U.S. Food and Nutrition Service Regarding School Lunch Program (2014)
USCCB Letter to U.S. Food and Nutrition Service Regarding Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, January 3, 2014
On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (“USCCB”) and the National Catholic Educational Association (“NCEA”), we respectfully submit the following comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) on the National School Lunch Program (“NSLP”) and School Breakfast Program (“SBP”). 78 Fed. Reg. 213 (Nov. 4, 2013).
The intention of the proposed rule is, among other things, to codify the statutory provision that establishes the Community Eligibility Option provision (“CEO”), a reimbursement option for eligible local educational agencies and schools that wish to offer free school meals to all children in high poverty schools without collecting household applications. We understand that the goals of the CEO are to reduce the administrative burden and to increase student participation in the NSLP and SBP. These are worthy goals, and all schools will benefit by an equitable application of this provision. We direct these comments to the equitable application of the CEO.
Nutrition is essential to the health and well-being of our neediest students. It is an important part of the safety net for our children who come from impoverished families and is critical for their educational development. Numerous scientific studies have suggested a strong link between child nutrition and learning in school. Such evidence supports the importance of the availability of school lunch programs and school breakfast programs in improving the educational performance of our students. It also supports the request that funding be made at the highest level possible in order for all needy children to have access to healthy meals while they are at school so that they can focus on learning rather than wondering where their next meal is coming from.