A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that expiration of the program increased student hunger, anxiety about meal costs, and decreased school meal participation, highlighting the important role school meal policies play in supporting student well-being

September 1, 2026 – A recent study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior (JNEB), published by Elsevier, explored elementary school teachers' experiences before and after the end of the federal universal free school meals (UFSM) policy. Researchers found that teachers perceived the policy had helped reduce student hunger and family stress, while its expiration was associated with increased hunger, anxiety about meal costs, and decreased participation in school meal programs.

Researchers conducted online interviews with 25 kindergarten through sixth-grade teachers from six elementary schools in Anchorage, Alaska. Teachers reflected on their experiences during the 2021–2022 school year, when universal free school meals were available, and compared them with the following school year after the federal policy ended.

Teachers reported that providing free meals to all students reduced concerns about hunger and eased financial stress for families. While some teachers perceived increased food waste during universal free school meals, they did not identify any benefits after the policy ended. Instead, many observed that fewer students participated in school meals, more students appeared hungry during the school day, and some expressed worry about the cost of meals. Several teachers also reported providing food to students themselves when they noticed children without enough to eat.

"Teachers witness firsthand how hunger affects students' ability to learn, focus, and participate in the classroom," said lead investigator Deborah Olarte, PhD, RD, Assistant Professor of Nutrition, New York University. "Their experiences provide valuable insight into how school meal policies can influence not only nutrition, but also student well-being and the overall classroom environment."

Teachers also described benefits of eating meals in the classroom, including stronger classroom communities, improved student behavior, and more opportunities to build relationships with students, although supervising meals also created additional clean-up responsibilities and reduced planning time.

The researchers conclude that teacher perspectives should be considered when designing future school meal policies. Their findings suggest that universal free school meals may help improve student well-being, reduce stigma surrounding school meals, and support a more positive learning environment.