WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- A U.S. government study indicated more low-income students may be eligible free or lower-cost meals because of a decreased need for paperwork, officials said.
The study commissioned by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service said health insurance records already submitted by families may be used to validate low-income students' eligibility for meal benefits, Abt Associates, the global health and social policy research company in Cambridge, Mass., that conducted the study, said Tuesday.
The existing insurance records would eliminate the need for school districts to get in touch with parents for details on their income, Abt said.
"Thousands of eligible children lose meal benefits each year just because of verification paperwork. With this new option, these children keep their benefits, their parents or guardians do not have to answer uncomfortable questions, and schools have less administrative burden and costs," said Chris Logan, senior Abt associate and the study's director.
The National School Lunch Program provides subsidized meals on an average day to about 32 million school children, including 20 million low-income children, Abt said.
To ensure the program is appropriately implemented, school districts select a number of household applications for free or reduced-price meals, contact the parents and ascertain eligibility.
"This process can take a lot of work for the school district, and it is invasive to families," Logan said.
