Barnum, M. (2018, September 18). Does expanding school lunch programs help keep kids in schools? Retrieved January 17, 2019

A National Bureau of Economic Research study found allowing all students to have free school lunch, instead of providing it only to those whose parents filled out application forms, may reduce the number of children who get suspended repeatedly from school. Researchers said federal community eligibility for student meals improves nutrition and the “social climate” at schools “by reducing the stigma associated with free meals.”