School Meals for All: A Qualitative Study Exploring Lessons in Successful Advocacy and Policymaking in Maine and California

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic focused national attention on food insecurity, equity, and the role of school meal programs in supporting children, families, and communities. In doing so, the pandemic created a rare policy window—an opportunity to advance a longstanding public health goal of guaranteed access to free school meals for all students. In July 2021, California and Maine became the first states to authorize school meal for all legislation (also known as universal free meals). Objective: The aim of this study was to explore perspectives of policymakers, state agency officials, and advocates on the conditions and mechanisms that facilitated passage of school meal for all legislation in California and Maine. Design: A qualitative case study was conducted. Participants: Between December 2021 and June 2022, semistructured interviews were conducted with 30 policymakers, state agency officials, and advocates. Statistical analysis performed: Interviews were analyzed using principles of content analysis. Key themes are organized using Kingdon's multiple streams framework for public policy. Results: Eleven key themes were identified. Lessons are drawn from the policy and advocacy strategies used to advance laws in California and Maine. For instance, paving the way with incremental policy change, tailoring messaging to diverse audiences, and organizing at the grassroots and grasstops levels were critical to success of advocacy efforts. Conclusions: Promising practices can guide efforts to expand access to school meals and advance other child nutrition policies in other states and nationally. Moving forward, lessons learned from implementation of universal free school meal legislation in California, Maine, and other early adopters should be documented and shared.