Purpose/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the current practices used in school nutrition programs to prevent intentional acts of food contamination or tampering with food. Methods: A convenience sample of school districts (n=2023) was randomly selected, representing two states from each of the seven USDA regions. School food…

FNS Research Corner provides a continuing series to summarize recently completed and current research conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in the area of Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs). Summaries of recently completed research projects and in-progress research are provided in this article.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a breathtaking amount of change to the nation's schools in a matter of weeks. On March 11, Seattle Public Schools was the first major district to close schools. The next day, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced the first statewide school closure order effective March 17, beginning a cascade of similar orders. By…

Background: The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) directed the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to revise school meal standards. Students are most affected by efforts to improve the school food environment; yet, few studies directly include students. This study examined high school students' experiences of school meal reform to gain…

Since mid-March, millions of schoolchildren have been stuck at home due to school closures brought on by the rapid spread of COVID-19. School districts' initial responses were captured by the first wave of the American Enterprise Institute's (AEI) COVID-19 Education Response Longitudinal Survey (C-ERLS), a nationally representative survey of…

When school buildings first closed in mid-March, few education leaders knew how long such closures would last. Now, that picture is becoming increasingly clear. Nearly all state governments have issued orders or recommendations requiring school buildings to remain closed for the duration of the 2019-20 academic year due to the threat of COVID-19.…

This report, which is the third in the American Enterprise Institute's (AEI's) "School District Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic" series, provides an update on the state of the nation's schools using the newest wave of COVID-19 Education Response Longitudinal Survey (C-ERLS) data. It describes how the nation's public school system has…

This is the fifth report in the "School District Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic" series, covering changes that occurred in public school districts between April 24 and May 8, 2020. Data for this report were collected on May 7 and 8. School districts' responses for this period were captured by the fifth wave of the American Enterprise…

This is the sixth report in the "School District Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic" series, covering changes that occurred in public school districts between May 8 and May 29, 2020. Data for this report were collected on May 27 and 29. School districts' responses for this period were captured by the sixth wave of the American Enterprise…

Purpose/Objectives: Fish and other seafood high in omega-3 fats are important components of a healthy diet. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions regarding serving fish in school meals among nutrition professionals in Alaska. Methods: Interviews with 22 school nutrition professionals in Alaska were conducted to investigate the…

In 2003, when it came to contracting out for common public school services, only outsourcing food provision could be considered a rather common occurrence in Michigan. There was good reason for this: school districts are prohibited from making a profit from their cafeteria, but any deficits created in providing food for students must be covered by…

Many of Michigan's public school districts are under substantial fiscal pressures from a combination of declining enrollment and increasing costs, particularly related to employee benefits, but most districts are responding to these challenges. One of the ways that districts can stretch their resources further is through competitive contracting…

Background: Computerized point-of-sale (POS) machine software that allows parents to place restrictions on their child's school meal accounts is available. Parents could restrict specific foods (e.g., chips), identify specific days the child can purchase extra foods, or set monetary limits. This descriptive study examines the use of parental…

Objective: This study investigated changes in Michigan school food service directors' farm to school (FTS) participation levels and perspectives since a 2004 survey and factors that would facilitate FTS expansion. Design: Electronic survey census of all Michigan school food service directors. Setting: Michigan kindergarten-12th grade schools.…

Purpose/Objectives: In 2010, a large urban school district implemented a district-wide school wellness policy that addressed childhood obesity by requiring schools to increase health and physical education contact hours for students and to improve the nutritional standards of school meals. Schools were required to serve a different fruit and…