Julia Bauscher

They're not hungry, so they can focus on the learning that's occurring in the classroom.

They have better attendance.

You can't teach a child if they're not in school.

That is critical.

And they have better academic outcomes, higher performance.

And as you've stated, many, many studies have proven that.

The other thing that USDA has done in the last 10 years is introduce a program called Community Eligibility, which enables districts to serve free meals to all students.

Jefferson County implemented that program around 2015 or 16.

We started out with just 32 schools.

It's a complicated formula to determine students.

the schools that can participate.

But we've been able to expand that program to all JCPS schools.

So all JCPS students, regardless of their eligibility for free meals, get a free breakfast, free lunch.

The supper program has always been free, as has been the summer food service program.

So we ensure that students receive meals during the school year.

And of course, participation in that program has increased participation among the students, which means more students have access to those healthy school meals.

And then we feed them after school if they're participating in an after school academic program or a sports program.

And then when school ends in May, we feed them during the summer.

JCPS typically has around 120 summer food service sites that include not only many of our JCPS schools, but community sites.

And USDA has begun to look at