Leave No Child Hungry

Relying on bad math and inadequate homework, federal bureaucrats are trying to figure out how to keep students who aren’t poor enough for free school lunches from getting them. They should worry more about the possibility that a ham-fisted change in rules could leave truly hungry kids without food.

As things stand, parents must fill out intimidating forms to show that they earn no more than $25,530 for a family of four. Proof is not required. Now, because a 1999 study found that 21% of the 13 million schoolchildren enrolled in the National School Lunch Program had parents who made too much money, Eric Bost, the U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary in charge of the program, is pondering a change to eliminate the overenrollment, possibly by requiring proof of income.

Problem is, that study used flawed U.S. Census Bureau projections to figure out how many people in a given area theoretically had incomes low enough to qualify. In addition, the census data come from annual income figures; the school lunch program depends on a one-month snapshot of income. As family circumstances change throughout the school year, that picture changes.

The figures also don’t take into account record-keeping problems that arise because low-income people are more likely than others to move during the school year. Most parents don’t add to their moving list, “Disenroll from school lunch program.” They reapply for free lunches at the new school, so one child on the program suddenly looks like two.

Better studies, which audited a sample of parents in some states, have come out with overenrollment figures closer to 12%. By some accounts, cutting overenrollment would save the feds $500 million a year. In truth, that savings estimate is too high because not all the disputed kids actually eat those lunches. In the Los Angeles schools, where close to half a million students sign up for free or reduced-price lunches, more than a third don’t request a school lunch each day. Embarrassment is a key reason.

An earlier USDA study showed that for each ineligible family screened out, proof of income requirements deters five eligible families from applying. Bost must tread carefully to avoid such results as Congress reauthorizes the free school lunch program. If this country is sincere about leaving no child behind educationally, no child can be left hungry, either.