Table A1.
Weighted standardized mean differences of predictors of universal free lunch participation from the propensity score model.
| Variable | Mean Difference |
Standardized Difference |
Percent Reduction |
Variance Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model Specification | ||||
| Propensity Score | 0.05791 | 0.24770 | 86.48 | 1.4349 |
| Demographics | ||||
| Region | ||||
| Mid-Atlantic | −0.00448 | −0.01373 | 90.92 | 0.9741 |
| Midwest | −0.01831 | −0.05467 | 86.13 | 0.8025 |
| Mountain | 0.00216 | 0.00778 | 95.91 | 1.0349 |
| Northeast | 0.00779 | 0.03311 | 80.62 | 1.2392 |
| Southeast | 0.03026 | 0.06977 | 89.86 | 1.0158 |
| Southwest | −0.00609 | −0.01699 | 36.92 | 0.9680 |
| West | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| School urbanicity | −0.01752 | −0.02301 | 92.39 | 1.1910 |
| School higher poverty status (20% or more) | 0.02793 | 0.06983 | 92.39 | 0.7576 |
| SFA size | 0.04215 | 0.06443 | 79.79 | 1.2073 |
| School size | −0.02081 | −0.02873 | 44.67 | 0.9699 |
| Breakfast | ||||
| Breakfast starts before or at start of first class | −0.03370 | −0.08785 | 28.49 | 1.2265 |
| School offers grab and go Breakfast | −0.02613 | −0.07899 | 37.68 | 0.8735 |
| Last bus arrives before or at the start time for breakfast | 0.01723 | 0.04662 | 60.60 | 1.0789 |
| Offer vs. serve at breakfast | −0.01978 | −0.05816 | 63.16 | 1.1992 |
| School has students eat breakfast in the classroom | 0.02710 | 0.06579 | 77.62 | 1.0649 |
| Lunch | ||||
| School has multiple lunch periods | 0.03056 | 0.06269 | 60.08 | 0.9846 |
| Average HEI total score from one week of lunches | 0.50865 | 0.10554 | 0.00 | 0.9339 |
| Number of lunch menu days | 0.01236 | 0.02271 | 88.95 | 1.0187 |
| Offer vs. serve at lunch | 0.00950 | 0.01986 | 85.35 | 0.9838 |
| Competitive Foods | ||||
| School has vending machines | 0.06261 | 0.13173 | 0.00 | 1.1019 |
| SFA competitive food standards exceed federal standards | 0.05668 | 0.12094 | 0.00 | 1.1382 |
| School has pouring rights contract | 0.06829 | 0.16887 | 0.00 | 1.4202 |
| School offers competitive foods during meals | −0.01733 | −0.04283 | 76.05 | 1.0515 |
| School has store or snack shop | −0.00588 | −0.01662 | 0.00 | 0.9666 |
| School has an open-campus policy | 0.02758 | 0.14392 | 0.00 | 3.3503 |
| Nutrition Standards, Menu Planning, and Training | ||||
| School uses cycle menus | −0.00244 | −0.00695 | 98.34 | 1.0284 |
| SFA meal standards exceed federal standards | 0.00007 | 0.00015 | 99.94 | 0.9987 |
| District conducts nutrient analysis of menus | 0.02190 | 0.05354 | 71.60 | 0.9117 |
| Number of food service training categories | 0.28750 | 0.11987 | 80.57 | 1.0610 |
| SFA director education and experience meets HHFKA standards | 0.07031 | 0.17320 | 57.47 | 0.7165 |
| Operations | ||||
| School provides afterschool snack or supper | 0.01397 | 0.02954 | 93.95 | 1.0001 |
| Schools in SFA offer branded foods | −0.01434 | −0.04975 | 84.02 | 0.7828 |
| SFA participates in food purchasing cooperative | −0.01749 | −0.03518 | 0.00 | 1.0091 |
| School accommodates students with special dietary needs | 0.00320 | 0.00924 | 86.90 | 0.9777 |
| School participates in a farm to school program | 0.07845 | 0.20482 | 42.48 | 1.3115 |
| School participates in fresh fruit and vegetable program | −0.02970 | −0.08223 | 61.99 | 0.8994 |
| SFA uses a food service management company | −0.02871 | −0.10466 | 40.08 | 0.6900 |
| SFA uses Alliance for Healthier Generation or similar purchasing tool | 0.06298 | 0.12871 | 69.99 | 0.9780 |
| School has more than one line for reimbursable meals or components | 0.02460 | 0.04912 | 0.00 | 0.9945 |
| School receives fully prepped foods from a central kitchen or production facility | 0.00204 | 0.00719 | 90.32 | 1.0235 |
| School is approved and certified for additional six-cent reimbursement | 0.00000 | 0.00000 | 100.00 | 0.0000 |
| One smarter lunchroom technique implemented | −0.02101 | −0.04841 | 72.99 | 0.9343 |
| Two to three smarter lunchroom techniques | −0.04318 | −0.08637 | 28.52 | 1.0080 |
| Four to seven smarter lunchroom techniques | 0.01821 | 0.05229 | 72.45 | 1.0909 |