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Work with MCSD on Story Behind the Curve.

There is a strong correlation between adequate nutrition and improved ability to learn. Studies have shown that children whose nutritional needs are met have fewer attendance and discipline problems, and are more attentive in class.

The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946. Children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130% and 185% of the poverty level are eligible for reduced‐price meals. Since the establishment of the modern lunch program, more than 224 billion lunches have been served.

The majority of children and families in the Marshalltown Community School District (MCSD) qualify for the free and reduced lunch program (FRL); in the 2015 – 16 school year this included 71% of all enrolled students. MCSD ranks 11th highest in the state of the number of children meeting FRL guidelines and 35th highest in the state in the percentage of children. MCSD reports that 90% of these FRL-qualified students meet the free lunch income guidelines, which for a family of four is less than $36,933 for a year.