We are a statewide policy and advocacy organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of low income Californians by increasing their access to nutritious, affordable food.

AB 1594 (Eng)

CFPA proposes to extend the needy-student meal mandate to California charter schools, ensuring that all low-income California students whether attending a traditional public school or public charter school, have access to these essential nutrition benefits.

CFPA Primary Contact

Alexis Fernández
Nutrition Policy Advocate
Oakland Office
510.433.1122 x111
alexis@cfpa.net

School Nutrition Resources

For more on School Lunch,
visit CFPA's School Lunch page.

For more on School Breakfast, visit CFPA's School Breakfast page.

Improving Charter School Nutrition: Hunger Should Not Be a Choice

The number of charter schools across California continues to grow; during the 2010-2011 school year alone, the total number of charter schools in California grew by 100. At a total of 982 schools, California has the highest concentration of charters in any state. This presents a crucial opportunity to ensure that all of the more than 412,000 California students attending California charter schools receive the resources necessary to support their academic success, including a free or reduced price meal if eligible. Currently, California charter schools are exempt from the state requirement that public schools serve one meal a day to students who qualify for free or reduced price meals.

Updates & News


Supporting Documents

Useful Background Materials

  • California State Audit:California's Charter Schools

    Some are Providing Meals to Students, but a Lack of Reliable Data Prevents the California Department of Education from Determining the Number of Students Eligible and Participating in Certain Federal Meal Programs

    Report Fact Sheet link
    Report Highlights link
    Report Summary link
    Full Report link

  • Relevant Media

    12.15.2011
    With Boost from California, Charter Schools Enroll 2 Million Nationally, EdSource, PDF

    11.30.2011
    Charter Schools Grow While More than 9 out of 10 Students Stay in Regular Public Schools, EdSource, PDF

    Read more here…

  • Relevant Research

    The Effects of the National School Lunch Program on Education and Health, Peter Hinrichs, 2010 PDF

    Higher Quality Intake from School Lunch Compared with Bagged Lunches, Inyoung Hur, PhD; Teri Burgess-Champoux, PhD; and Maria Reicks, PhD, RD,  2011 PDF

    The School Food Environment and Student Body Max Index and Food Consumption: 2004 to 2007 National Data, Yvonne M. Terry-McElrath, M.S.A.; Patrick M. O’Malley, PhD; Jorge Delva, PhD; and Loyd D. Johnston, PhD, 2009 PDF

    Food Insufficiency and American School-Aged Children’s Cognitive, Academic, and Psychosocial Development, Katherine Alaimo, PhD; Christine M. Olsen, PhD; Edward A. Frongillo, Jr, PhD, 2001, PDF

    Diet, Breakfast, and Academic Performance in Children, R.E. Kleinman; S. Hall; H. Green; D. Korezec-Ramirez; K. Patton; M.e. Pagano; J.M. Murphy, 2002 PDF

Page last updated 2.9.2012

 

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