One in six children in Connecticut is food insecure and uncertain about where their next meal will come from. Schools often serve as a reliable source of meals for children, sometimes providing the only meal they will have that day. Research has shown that providing students with nutritious meals can reduce food insecurity, increase academic performance, and improve student behavior.
With many school districts facing the dilemma of choosing between funding school meals or other essential programs, staff, and student services, it is crucial to understand the current state of school meal programs in Connecticut, and what changes might be coming from the federal government.
This briefing offers a high-level overview of school meal programs by examining the current state of these programs in Connecticut, how proposed federal policy changes might impact the state, and what proposals are being considered by the state legislature to invest in these programs.
Citation
School and State Finance Project. (2025). The State of School Meal Programs in Connecticut. Southington, CT: Author. Retrieved from https://files.schoolstatefinance.org/hubfs/Reports/State%20of%20School%20Meal%20
Programs%20in%20Connecticut.pdf.