<P> Some school authorities hold to the idea that a school lunch program must be self - supporting, and others feel that the school has no responsibility in this area . According to a junior high school principal, "We think this is the responsibility of parents and child . We do not check them to see if a student eats . As a whole, we are doing it as a service rather than a need ." </P> <P> The net result is that the children in the neediest areas must go without an adequate noonday meal at school, or perhaps an inadequate evening meal at home, or none at all . Many high school students prefer to bring a bag lunch from home or eat snacks and beverages at a nearby stand or from a vending machine in the school . In some instances the portions served to high school students are not adjusted to meet their needs and they seek other sources of service where their tastes and appetites can be satisfied . </P> <P> The predominate reason, however, appears to be inadequate funding at federal, state and local levels, with the end result that the children who cannot afford to pay are the losers . </P> <P> In December 2014, Indian Country Today reported that 68 percent of Native American and Alaska Native students "are eligible for free and reduced - price school lunches, compared with 28 percent of white students . USDA data indicate that 70 percent of children receiving free lunches through the NSLP are children of color, as are 50 percent of students receiving reduced - price lunches ." The article expressed concern regarding efforts to undercut nutrition standards, and notes that several Native American schools are working to improve the quality of school lunches by using produce from school gardens, or tribally grown buffalo meat . </P>

Who pays for the national school lunch program