Bill Overview
Title: Afterschool Meals Act of 2022
Description: This bill allows for reimbursements to schools for meals provided to eligible children in after-school care through the National School Lunch Program. (Under current law, schools participating in that program may only provide snacks during after-school care.)
Sponsors: Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
Target Audience
Population: Children in school-based afterschool care programs
Estimated Size: 20000000
- The bill targets schools participating in the National School Lunch Program.
- Eligible children in after-school care who will now receive meals instead of just snacks are the primary beneficiaries.
- The change could affect millions of children, primarily those from low-income families, who rely on school programs for adequate nutrition.
- There are approximately 60 million children in the U.S. who attend pre-K through high school.
- Not all schools offer after-school programs, and not all programs are part of the National School Lunch Program.
- A considerable portion of children in low-income families depend on after-school programs for part of their daily nutrition.
Reasoning
- The population impacted primarily consists of children attending after-school programs that are part of the National School Lunch Program. The policy change will have varying degrees of impact on children's wellbeing, depending on factors like their current nutritional state and reliance on after-school programs for their meals.
- We must consider that not all children in the U.S. will be affected by this policy. Only those in schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program and provide after-school care benefit directly.
- The budget limits will affect the number of schools and students that can be reached in the first year and over ten years.
- Children from low-income families, who often rely more heavily on school meals, will likely experience a more significant improvement in wellbeing.
- There will also be a proportion of children not impacted because they attend schools that are not part of the program, or their families do not need additional support.
Simulated Interviews
Student (Detroit, MI)
Age: 8 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The meals will make a big difference because sometimes I only get snacks and feel hungry by the time I go home.
- My mom says it's hard to make sure we always have enough food.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 10 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our school's program doesn't give us meals; only some of my friends get them.
- I don't think this policy affects me much.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Student (Newark, NJ)
Age: 7 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having meals after school would help me not feel so tired and hungry during homework time.
- I love the lunch ladies, and they'd be giving us dinner too!
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
High School Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 15 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It would be helpful to have a full meal after practice since I get home late sometimes.
- This seems like it could really help a lot of kids who stay late.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Student (Rural Kansas)
Age: 11 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our after-school program is more about tutoring and doesn't provide meals.
- I don't think this changes anything for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Student (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 9 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sometimes school lunch and snacks are all I really get to eat until breakfast.
- If we had more food, I wouldn't be so hungry after school.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
High School Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 14 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We usually just get snacks, so having a meal would be great before heading home.
- This can really help students like me who stay late at school often.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Student (Miami, FL)
Age: 6 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our school doesn't use the same program for meals.
- Mom says I bring food from home, so it's not affecting me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 12 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Meals would definitely help with energy after school.
- I think this change is something good that will help us eat better.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Student (New York, NY)
Age: 13 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We have snacks, but mom always packs my meals anyway.
- This policy wouldn't change much for me personally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 2: $1550000000 (Low: $1250000000, High: $1850000000)
Year 3: $1600000000 (Low: $1300000000, High: $1900000000)
Year 5: $1700000000 (Low: $1400000000, High: $2000000000)
Year 10: $1900000000 (Low: $1600000000, High: $2200000000)
Year 100: $3000000000 (Low: $2500000000, High: $3800000000)
Key Considerations
- The full cost burden may not be realized until full program participation is reached.
- Program adoption rates will affect annual cost variability.
- The scale of meal reimbursements drives most cost estimates.