Appendix A Research Questions

APPENDIX A

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Table 1. CEP Characteristics Study Research Questions for the State Child Nutrition Director Survey

Research Question

RQ 1: How difficult is it to implement CEP?

RQ 2: What are the common concerns about CEP expressed in non-participating LEAs?

RQ 3: How are the notification and public reporting requirements for State agencies implemented? Are State agencies able to meet these requirements?

RQ 4: How has the discontinued use of FRP applications affected the allocation of educational benefits to economically disadvantaged students?

RQ 5: Do State Agencies receive timely information (e.g., lists of eligible and near-eligible schools, notification of desire to participate) from LEAs with one or more eligible schools?

RQ 6: What do State Agencies do to confirm that the enrollment and number of Identified Students in individual schools an LEA has identified as eligible are correct?

RQ 7: Is the administrative review of CEP schools more or less time-consuming than when an LEA operated under other provisions?

RQ 8: Have State Agencies had to alter their financial payment system to accommodate the meal reimbursement payments for schools/LEAs participating in CEP?

RQ 9: How many LEAs elect the Provision district-wide, for one school, or by groups of schools?

Table 2. CEP Characteristics Study Research Questions for Local Education Agencies (Participating and non-Participating)

Research Questions

RQ 1: How appealing is CEP to high poverty LEAs? To high poverty schools?

RQ 2: For those eligible schools/LEAs that do not elect CEP, what are the barriers to participation?

RQ 3: For those eligible schools/LEAs that do not elect CEP, what changes could be made to the special assistance provision to make it more appealing?

RQ 3a: How are the LEAs educating and informing the public about CEP?

RQ 4: What are the characteristics of eligible LEAs/schools that elect this option and those that do not elect this option?

RQ 5: Are LEAs/schools operating under Provision 2 or 3 more likely to switch to CEP or remain on Provision 2 or 3?

RQ6: What do State Agencies do to confirm that the enrollment and number of Identified Students in individual schools an LEA has identified as eligible are correct?

RQ 7: How much administrative burden has been reduced with the election of CEP? What is the associated cost savings to the LEA?

RQ 8: Have LEAs been able to reallocate staff as a result of not having to take applications?

RQ 9: How does the total meal reimbursements received under CEP compare with the total meal reimbursements received in prior years? (Objective V-b)

RQ 11: How often do LEAs use the first year identified student percentage (established in the year prior to electing the option) instead of using more recently established percentages?

RQ 12: Have any LEAs elected out of the option? If so, what were the reasons?

RQ 13: What portion of the identified student percentage is from direct certification and what portion is from other students not subject to verification?

Table 3. CEP Characteristics Study Impact Questions

Research Questions

RQ 1: What is the impact of electing to receive special assistance payments under CEP on the School Breakfast Program?

RQ 2: What is the impact of electing to receive special assistance payments under CEP on attendance and program participation?

RQ 3: What is the impact of electing to receive special assistance payments under CEP on revenues generated for reimbursable meals?

RQ 4: What are the School Foodservice Director’s perceived impacts of electing to receive special assistance payments under CEP on: a) Rates of attendance and tardiness; b) Student health (e.g., visits to the school nurse);

c) Student behavior (e.g., number of disciplinary incidents); and d) Meal quality.