Child Nutrition Reauthorization Priorities: Voices from the Field

Every decade, Congress reauthorizes the law that governs the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs, referred to as the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The latest iteration of the law, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-296), expired on September 30, 2015, and presents Congress with an opportunity to provide some overdue updates to the legislation.

Specific to the nutritional provisions of the law, Congress must maintain the current sodium 1-target level, 50% enriched whole grain and flavored milk flexibilities as implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

To best illustrate the opposition of superintendents against increased nutritional standards, AASA has compiled feedback from our members to exemplify how these policies will negatively affect our superintendents’ efforts to feed students.