School Business Insider: Healthy School Meals for All – What’s at Stake in Washington

Host: John Brucato
Guest: Crystal Fitzsimmons, Interim President of the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
Release Date: April 1, 2025

Introduction

In this pivotal episode of School Business Insider, host John Brucato engages in a comprehensive discussion with Crystal Fitzsimmons, the Interim President of FRAC. The conversation centers on the critical issue of school nutrition, particularly focusing on the threats posed by recent federal budget negotiations and the future of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The episode delves into the implications of potential cuts to school nutrition programs and explores strategies for safeguarding healthy meals for all students.

Guest Background and FRAC’s Mission

Crystal Fitzsimmons begins by sharing her extensive background and the mission of FRAC:

“FRAC is a national anti-hunger organization and we really focus on the federal nutrition programs as a core strategy to reduce hunger in the United States.”
[02:34]

With over 27 years at FRAC, Crystal emphasizes the organization's commitment to ensuring every child has access to nutritious meals, which are essential for their growth and academic success.

Current Threats to School Nutrition Programs

Congressional Budget Reconciliation Efforts

Crystal outlines the current scenario in Congress:

“Congress is looking at doing what they call a budget reconciliation... they have suggested pretty significant cuts to federal nutrition programs.”
[03:08]

Both the Senate and the House are considering substantial reductions, including a proposed $330 billion cut from education programs in the House. These cuts potentially target vital programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and notably, school nutrition.

Understanding the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

What is CEP?

CEP, established nationwide in 2014, allows high-need schools to offer free meals to all students without individual applications, simplifying access and reducing stigma.

“There are about over half of the schools in the country who participate in school lunch and school breakfast actually offering free meals to all their students.”
[06:40]

Threats to CEP

Recent proposals seek to weaken CEP by increasing the certification threshold from 25% to 60% of students qualifying through automatic mechanisms (SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, etc.), which would disqualify approximately 24,000 schools from offering free meals to all students.

“They are actually looking at reducing the number of schools that are able to offer free meals to all their students through the community eligibility provision.”
[06:40]

Additionally, there are suggestions to escalate income verification requirements from 3% to 100% of applications, burdening schools with increased administrative tasks and risking eligible students falling through the cracks.

“Increasing verification requirements really increases administrative work for schools and limits kids access to school meals.”
[10:32]

Implications of Potential Cuts

Impact on Schools and Families

Cutting CEP would not only increase administrative burdens but also force schools to navigate complex application processes, potentially reducing meal access for students who rely on free or reduced-price meals as their primary source of nutrition.

“Making sure that kids have access to the nutrition they need is critical... if we are not making sure that kids have access to the nutrition they need while they're in school, we're actually wasting our money on education.”
[05:37]

Budgetary Consequences

Reducing CEP would create unfunded mandates, as schools would need additional resources to handle increased verification processes without corresponding federal support.

“We want kids in Mississippi to have access to the same high quality meals as the kids in Washington... we need the federal nutrition programs to really operate the same way for kids.”
[13:19]

Healthy School Meals for All Coalition

Collaboration with ASBO International

Crystal highlights the collaborative efforts between FRAC and ASBO International within the Healthy School Meals for All Coalition, aiming to maintain and expand free meal offerings.

“The Healthy School Meals for All Coalition really came together as the pandemic was wrapping up... it was a win for schools, parents, and kids.”
[15:46]

Advocacy and Outreach

The coalition focuses on lobbying, sharing communications, and promoting the success of CEP during the pandemic as a model for nationwide implementation.

Strategies for Advocacy

Engaging School Business Officials

Crystal underscores the crucial role of school business officials in advocating for nutrition programs by providing the financial perspective and operational insights necessary to influence policymakers.

“School business officials really bring the financial voice and they can talk about how the programs operate.”
[19:16]

Practical Advocacy Actions

• Site Visits: Organizing visits for congressional members to observe school meal programs firsthand.

  “You can actually invite your senator to come out to your school and see the school meal program.”
  [21:20]

• Utilizing FRAC Resources: Leveraging FRAC’s advocacy tools, including email campaigns, talking points, webinars, and newsletters.

  “We have advocacy resources... send it to your members of your senators and your House members.”
  [23:57]

• Community Engagement: Communicating with families and communities through best practices outlined in FRAC’s webinars and toolkits.

  “We have sample messaging for even, like, robocalls around things.”
  [25:18]

Operational and Budgetary Benefits of CEP

Cost Savings and Efficiency

CEP eliminates the need for individual meal applications, reducing administrative costs and increasing participation rates, which in turn lowers the cost per meal through economies of scale.

“With CEP, you get rid of the school meal application process... they don't have to collect school meal applications, reducing administrative costs.”
[27:53]

After School Supper Program

Crystal introduces the After School Supper Program, which provides free suppers to students engaged in after-school activities, further supporting nutrition and reducing family financial burdens.

“If schools are offering after school enrichment and programming, there is the after school supper and snack program...”
[29:55]

Nutrition’s Role in Student Success

Academic and Behavioral Outcomes

Research supports that well-nourished students exhibit better attendance, higher test scores, improved focus, and reduced disciplinary issues.

“Kids who participate in school breakfast and school lunch... better attendance, higher test scores, able to focus more in the classroom.”
[33:02]

Action Steps for School Business Leaders

Protecting School Meals

To safeguard nutrition programs, school business leaders are encouraged to:

1. Advocate with Legislators: Contact and communicate with both Senators and House Representatives about the importance of maintaining CEP.

   “The most important thing that they can do is weigh in with their congressional delegation.”
   [34:18]

2. Leverage Data: Use district-specific data to illustrate the financial and operational impacts of potential cuts.

   “Calculate the actual expected increased cost if they have to process more school meal applications.”
   [26:12]

3. Engage the Community: Utilize FRAC’s resources to effectively communicate with families and garner community support.

Resources for Advocacy

FRAC’s Tools and Support

FRAC provides a multitude of resources to aid in advocacy efforts, including:

• Email Campaigns: Easily send personalized messages to legislators.
• Talking Points and Webinars: Equip officials with information and strategies.
• Advocacy Alerts and Newsletters: Keep advocates informed on the latest developments.

“We have a whole range of resources that anyone can tap into to help support their nutrition programs.”
[23:57]

ASBO’s Support

ASBO International also offers valuable resources tailored for school business officials, enhancing collaborative advocacy efforts.

“ASBO has those kinds of resources as well.”
[21:20]

Future Outlook for School Nutrition Policy

Opportunities and Progress

Despite current challenges, Crystal is optimistic about the future of school nutrition programs. The significant increase in CEP adoption and state-level initiatives to support free meals signal strong momentum.

“We have made a tremendous amount of progress... about half the schools in the country are now offering free meals to all students.”
[17:49]

Public Support

Polling indicates widespread public support for free school meals, even in traditionally conservative states, bolstering the case for maintaining and expanding these programs.

“More than 80% of voters actually support free school meals for all.”
[39:01]

Continued Advocacy

Crystal emphasizes the importance of ongoing advocacy and the collective effort required to protect and enhance school nutrition programs.

“We will be able to push back on these attacks if we all work together.”
[15:35]

Conclusion

The episode concludes with a strong endorsement of collaborative efforts between FRAC and ASBO International, reinforcing the shared commitment to ensuring every student has access to healthy, free meals. Crystal inspires school business officials to take proactive steps in advocacy, leveraging available resources and community support to influence federal policy positively.

“We do have a lot of opportunities and challenges... people are talking about it more and understand the value.”
[36:42]

John Brucato wraps up by highlighting the essential role of school business leaders in this advocacy battle, urging listeners to engage actively in protecting and advancing school nutrition programs.

Additional Resources:

• FRAC’s Website: frac.org – Access advocacy tools, webinars, and more.
• ASBO International Advocacy: asbointl.org/advocacy – Explore advocacy items and related podcast episodes.

Thank you for tuning in to this insightful episode of School Business Insider. Stay informed and engaged to support the well-being and success of every student through robust school nutrition programs.