Re-thinking the Poverty Indicators in the Education System

As the exciting momentum builds around free school meals for all and expanding other meal programs, it is important to understand the impact of the loss of Free and Reduced-Price Meal (FRPM) data and school districts’ federal funding allocations. It is time for Congress to act urgently to come up with a new student poverty metric that is separate from school nutrition—and as we know, Congress won’t do much without a push from education advocates.

AASA, First Focus and FRAC are excited to create a working group of education advocates at the federal level for a comprehensive conversation about improving poverty indicators for education. To kick off this exciting conversation, we are hosting a series of webinars to set foundational knowledge on Free and Reduced Price Meal data and other existing indicators, their flaws, and possibilities for moving forward.

• 

  August 25, 2022

  How FRPM Works

  View the Recording

• 

  September 15, 2022

  How FRPM Doesn’t Work

  View the Recording

• 

  October 6, 2022

  What Else Could Work?

  View the Recording