In Phoenix, Arizona, a concerning trend is emerging in schools across America: rising hunger among children. This issue has intensified following the expiration of pandemic-era benefit programs.

Congress had temporarily made school meals free for all American students. However, since this policy ended last fall, schools are witnessing an increased need among students. Compounding the issue are soaring food prices and the reduction of financial assistance, including the imminent end of a federal program that provided extra food stamps to nearly 30 million Americans during the pandemic.

School cafeterias, while continuing to feed students, are accumulating debts for unpaid meals, signaling the extent of the need. The most disadvantaged children still qualify for free or reduced-price meals, but the process requires applications that haven’t been needed for several years.

Megan Curran, policy director at Columbia University’s Center on Poverty and Social Policy, warns of the significant impact due to the absence of direct food assistance programs in the coming months. A recent report from the Food Research & Action Center indicated a sharp increase in the number of school meals served last academic year, slightly higher than pre-pandemic levels. However, states are now reporting decreases in the number of meals served.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, over 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure. Research shows that children from these households are more likely to face academic struggles and repeat grade levels.

For students like Fabian Aguirre, a fourth-grader at V. H. Lassen Academy of Science and Nutrition in South Phoenix, hunger hampers concentration in class. Despite receiving breakfast at school, he often finds himself hungry before lunch, especially on days he doesn’t eat at home first.

The Roosevelt School District, where Fabian’s school is located, provides free meals to all students through a federal program for low-income communities. To address the issue of students skipping breakfast, the school has introduced a new distribution method using carts filled with prepackaged meals at the school entrance.

Jessica Padilla, a teacher at the school, noted that many students were missing breakfast by heading straight to the playground, prompting this change.

The universal free meal program, while it lasted, eliminated the need for paperwork and stigma associated with receiving free meals. However, its cessation left many families confused and unprepared. Anna King, National PTA President, notes the challenges families face, especially those who had never completed such paperwork before.

The burden of identifying and addressing student hunger often falls on teachers. Jillien Meier, director of No Kid Hungry, points out that immigrant parents might hesitate to apply for free or reduced-price meals due to fear of drawing attention to their immigration status.

Teachers like Martissa Moore at Bainbridge Middle School in Georgia have taken personal initiatives to help students facing chronic hunger. Moore recalls providing breakfast for a struggling student, resulting in improved academic performance.

However, Hilary Seligman, a senior medical advisor with Feeding America, emphasizes that the responsibility to address child hunger should not solely rest on schools. She argues that normal childhood development includes access to food at home, creating a stable environment where children are prepared to learn.