Temple University researchers examine why participation in free school meals has declined and how researchers are co-creating solutions with schools to strengthen the program for students.

In the fight against food insecurity, expanding access to free school breakfast and lunches has become a powerful tool in supporting students’ health, learning and well-being.  

But, a new study from Temple University suggests that access alone is not enough. A study led by Gabriella Maria McLoughlin, assistant professor in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Temple University’s Barnett College of Public Health and director of the RISE Lab, found that a combination of infrastructure limitations, staffing pressures and persistent stigma can limit student participation in universal school meals (USM) and affect how consistently meals are delivered, particularly in middle and high school settings.  

Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, McLoughlin and a multidisciplinary team of Temple faculty and graduate and undergraduate students are using a community-centered framework known as implementation mapping. In partnership with the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) and a community advisory board, the approach engages students, parents and SDP staff as co-designers to develop and test ways to improve participation in the program. 

“If participation were to decline, universal school meals may no longer be financially viable,” McLoughlin said. “That would have serious consequences for students who rely on these meals every day.”  

The findings come from a yearlong needs assessment conducted across eight Philadelphia middle and high schools. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, the research team identified a set of interconnected barriers that influence whether students eat school meals and how those meals are delivered day to day. Those findings informed a pilot now underway in four schools, where tailored strategies are being tested to address barriers and support the program’s long-term sustainability.  

While the benefits of free school meals are well documented, less is known about how these programs are implemented and sustained in real-school settings. McLoughlin’s study examines how universal school meals function in practice, drawing on experiences from front-line school staff, including food service workers, teachers and administrators. Together, the research team and SDP are using these findings to refine implementation and help ensure continued access for all students.  

Introduced nationally through federal programs such as the Community Eligibility Provision, universal school meals provide free breakfast and lunch to all students, regardless of household income. In Pennsylvania, additional state funding has expanded access, making universal school meals a cornerstone policy for reducing hunger, improving attendance and supporting academic outcomes, particularly in high-need districts like Philadelphia.  

Building on those early findings, the research shows that participation gaps are shaped not only by access, but by a combination of logistical constraints and social dynamics that influence students’ daily decisions about eating school meals. The needs assessment highlighted how these factors can limit the program’s impact and jeopardize its future if left unaddressed. 

Infrastructure was one of the most consistent challenges identified across participating schools. Many Philadelphia schools rely on satellite kitchens, where meals are prepared off-site, delivered and reheated before service. While meals meet nutritional standards, limitations in equipment, timing and building conditions can affect food quality and consistency—factors students quickly notice. 

Staffing patterns also varied. Full-service kitchens generally had more staff available than satellite sites, while some schools faced challenges related to consistency, training and coverage during peak meal times. 

Beyond logistics, the study revealed stigma as a powerful factor in shaping participation. Although universal school meals are intended to eliminate income-based labeling, students, particularly in middle and high school, often worried about how peers would view them if they took a school meal. 

“In the age of social media, stigma associated with universal school meals for young people can be amplified,” McLoughlin said. “Some students shared during interviews that they feared being perceived as poor.” 

When students opt out of school meals, they are more likely to turn to nearby corner stores or fast-food options that are inexpensive and convenient but less nutritious, especially in neighborhoods with limited access to healthy food. 

That pattern connects directly to another core focus of the study: the relationship between universal school meals, food insecurity and long-term health risks, including obesity. Children living in low-income communities face higher rates of food insecurity than their peers in more affluent areas, with disproportionate impacts on Black and brown communities. 

McLoughlin emphasized that food insecurity is not simply about hunger, but about inconsistent access to nutritious food in environments shaped by affordability, availability and stress. Families juggling multiple jobs, long commutes and limited food options often make trade-offs that prioritize convenience and cost, sometimes at the expense of nutrition. School meals, she noted, can be one of the most reliable sources of balanced, nutritious food available to students during the week, making participation a critical public health issue.  

The study also highlights why improving participation matters for school districts themselves. School meal programs rely on reimbursement tied to meals served, meaning participation directly affects financial sustainability. Declining participation can put long-term access at risk, underscoring why McLoughlin’s work focuses on strengthening, not dismantling the program. That focus is rooted in elevating the voices of those most directly affected. 

“The people closest to the work understand the barriers and the opportunities,” McLoughlin said. “Our role is to listen and build solutions alongside them, not prescribe them.” 

Throughout the project, McLoughlin sees the research as aligned with Temple’s role as a place-based public research institution committed to addressing real-world challenges in Philadelphia. Rather than conducting research removed from its context, the study is embedded in schools and communities, with Temple students and staff working alongside local partners. 

“As a community-facing institution, this work is reflective of Temple’s mission,” McLoughlin said. “Our lab isn’t separate from the community—the community is the lab.” 

As the pilot continues through the current academic year and into 2027, the research team will assess which strategies schools adopt, how well they are sustained and whether they increase participation in universal school meals. The work emphasizes a central lesson for policymakers and educators: Access alone is not enough—how programs are implemented, and whether they are designed with communities, ultimately determines their impact. 

Research team 

The ongoing study is being conducted by a multidisciplinary research team that included Temple University faculty, staff and students from the Barnett College of Public Health. 

Faculty and staff 

• Angel Smith, research analyst, Barnett College of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences 

• Resa Jones, associate professor, Barnett College of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics 

• Yanda Lang, assistant professor, Barnett College of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics 

• Recai Yucel, professor, Barnett College of Public Health 

• Jennifer Orlet Fisher, professor, Barnett College of Public Health 

Graduate students 

• Molly Kerstetter, CPH ’24 

• Aidan Mykulowycz, CPH ’26 

• Divya Kulkarni, PHR ’27 

• Yerusalem Yohannes, CPH ’24 

Undergraduate students 

• Garima Adhikari, CLA ’26 

• Sofia DuBrin-Meneses, EDU ’26