Free meals for all: the effects of Tennessee’s community eligibility provision on student non-academic outcomes

In 2014–2015, Tennessee implemented the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), allowing schools with larger percentages of low-income students to expand free meals to all students, regardless of household income level. Using statewide student-level data in a difference-in-differences framework, we find that CEP reduced the extensive margin of suspensions and expulsions statewide. Further, we show that it takes two years for effects on disciplinary infractions and on-time grade progression to manifest, with those effects continuing into year 3. Results are driven by rural and urban schools. Our findings are particularly salient as federal and state governments consider expanding free school meal programs.