Using American Community Survey Data to Expand Access to the School Meal Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service asked the National Academies' Committee on National Statistics and Food and Nutrition Board to convene a panel of experts to estimate the number of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. The panel, chaired by Allen Schirm, vice president and director of methods, will investigate the technical and operational feasibility of using data from the continuous American Community Survey (ACS) for schools and districts under a special provision for providing free meals to all students in participating schools. This final report presents the panel's findings and recommendations. Although there is no one-size-fits-all approach for using ACS data, the panel developed more tailored procedures that districts could implement to expand access to school meal programs.