According to the United States Department Of Agriculture, only 48% of Californians who are eligible for food stamps actually got them last year.

The California Budget Project recently released a report called FOOD WITHIN REACH: Strategies For Increasing Participation In The Food Stamp Program In California. The report’s recommendations don’t include schools working more closely with county and state agencies on outreach to families, such a strategy could be one way schools could connect better with parents, respond to a direct family self-interest, and help ensure students don’t come to school hungry (or, at least, less hungry).

Other states also have large numbers of qualified people not participating, so such a strategy would not have to be limited to California.