Food Insecurity, the National School Lunch Program and Educational Achievement: Evidence from Georgia's Public Schools

Abstract

In 2011, nearly 1.7 million Georgians, 17.9% of the population, lived in poverty, and of those, 24.8% were children. Poverty is closely associated with food insecurity. Food insecurity has been associated with various developmental consequences for U.S. children. Research indicates that hungry children do more poorly in school and have lower academic achievement because they are not well prepared for school and cannot concentrate. This research examines the relationship between food insecurity, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and academic achievement of 5th grade students in Georgia.