School nutrition changes to improve children's learning
Official title: Effectiveness of population level interventions in schools and academic performance
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11394036 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether improving the foods and drinks available at schools helps children's grades and learning, especially for Black and Hispanic students.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | August 21, 2022 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $640,915 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD017687-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394036 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Elementary-age children (roughly 5–11 years old) who attend schools that have implemented large-scale nutrition policy changes, especially in districts with many Black and Hispanic students.
✕Less likely to help
Children who are not exposed to school food policy changes (for example, those who are home-schooled or attend unaffected private schools) are unlikely to see direct benefits from this work.
What this research studies
This project follows children over several years to see how large, real-world changes to school food rules affect their academic performance. Researchers use natural experiments—policy changes that have already happened—to compare student outcomes before and after new nutrition standards are put in place. The team also examines food and drink availability near schools, such as junk food vendors, to understand how the surrounding food environment influences results. The focus is on whether these policies reduce educational and long-term health gaps for African American and Hispanic children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, safer and healthier school food policies could improve grades and help narrow educational and health gaps for children, particularly in Black and Hispanic communities.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies offer promising evidence that improved school nutrition can boost academic outcomes, but long-term, population-level studies linking school policies and nearby food environments remain limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sanchez, Brisa N — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Sanchez, Brisa N
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.