View in EDS

Free Meals for All: The Effects of Tennessee's Community Eligibility Provision on Student Non-Academic Outcomes

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Free Meals for All: The Effects of Tennessee's Community Eligibility Provision on Student Non-Academic Outcomes
Language: English
Authors: Adam Kho (ORCID 0000-0002-6957-3427), Seth Hunter (ORCID 0000-0002-3051-872X)
Source: Educational Studies. 2026 52(2):129-147.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Lunch Programs, Low Income Students, Educational Policy, Attendance, Suspension, Expulsion, Student Promotion, Eligibility, Elementary Secondary Education, High School Graduates, Rural Schools, Suburban Schools, Urban Schools, Outcomes of Education, Breakfast Programs
Geographic Terms: Tennessee
DOI: 10.1080/03055698.2025.2452619
ISSN: 0305-5698
1465-3400
Abstract: In 2014-2015, Tennessee implemented the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), allowing schools with larger percentages of low-income students to expand free meals to all students, regardless of household income level. Using statewide student-level data in a difference-in-differences framework, we find that CEP reduced the extensive margin of suspensions and expulsions statewide. Further, we show that it takes two years for effects on disciplinary infractions and on-time grade progression to manifest, with those effects continuing into year 3. Results are driven by rural and urban schools. Our findings are particularly salient as federal and state governments consider expanding free school meal programs.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1503200
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1503200
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Free Meals for All: The Effects of Tennessee's Community Eligibility Provision on Student Non-Academic Outcomes
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Adam+Kho%22">Adam Kho</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6957-3427">0000-0002-6957-3427</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Seth+Hunter%22">Seth Hunter</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3051-872X">0000-0002-3051-872X</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Educational+Studies%22"><i>Educational Studies</i></searchLink>. 2026 52(2):129-147.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 19
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Lunch+Programs%22">Lunch Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low+Income+Students%22">Low Income Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Attendance%22">Attendance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Suspension%22">Suspension</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Expulsion%22">Expulsion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Promotion%22">Student Promotion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Eligibility%22">Eligibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Graduates%22">High School Graduates</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Schools%22">Rural Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Suburban+Schools%22">Suburban Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Urban+Schools%22">Urban Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outcomes+of+Education%22">Outcomes of Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Breakfast+Programs%22">Breakfast Programs</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tennessee%22">Tennessee</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1080/03055698.2025.2452619
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0305-5698<br />1465-3400
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: In 2014-2015, Tennessee implemented the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), allowing schools with larger percentages of low-income students to expand free meals to all students, regardless of household income level. Using statewide student-level data in a difference-in-differences framework, we find that CEP reduced the extensive margin of suspensions and expulsions statewide. Further, we show that it takes two years for effects on disciplinary infractions and on-time grade progression to manifest, with those effects continuing into year 3. Results are driven by rural and urban schools. Our findings are particularly salient as federal and state governments consider expanding free school meal programs.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1503200
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1503200
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/03055698.2025.2452619
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 129
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Lunch Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Low Income Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Attendance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Suspension
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Expulsion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Promotion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Eligibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: High School Graduates
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rural Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Suburban Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Urban Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Outcomes of Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Breakfast Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Tennessee
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Free Meals for All: The Effects of Tennessee's Community Eligibility Provision on Student Non-Academic Outcomes
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Adam Kho
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Seth Hunter
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0305-5698
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1465-3400
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 52
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Educational Studies
              Type: main
ResultId 1