Cafeteria to Classroom: How School Meals Improve Student Outcomes

MACo’s 2026 Summer Conference Solutions Showcase features thought leaders and industry experts presenting resources and best practices to assist local governments. Check out this session hosted by American Heart Association! 

About American Heart Association: 
The six cardiologists who founded the American Heart Association in 1924 would be amazed. From humble beginnings, the American Heart Association has grown into the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. A shared focus on cardiovascular health unites our more than 35 million volunteers and supporters as well as our more than 3,300 employees. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer worldwide, and stroke ranks second globally. Even when those conditions don’t result in death, they cause disability and diminish quality of life. We want to see a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. 

American Heart Association | To be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives 

SOLUTIONS SHOWCASE SESSION:

Title: Cafeteria to Classroom: How School Meals Improve Student Outcomes

Description: When students have consistent access to healthy meals, everything changes. Attendance improves. Test scores rise. Behavioral challenges drop. The data is clear, and educators see it every day. School meals are one of the most proven, cost-effective ways to close achievement gaps and support working families — but only if every child can access them. Yet too many Maryland children still arrive at school undernourished, putting their learning and long-term health at risk before the day even begins. By expanding and strengthening school meal programs across Maryland, a daily necessity can be turned into a driver of better outcomes for students, schools, and entire communities. Counties can directly influence student success while reducing future healthcare and social costs by investing in expanded access to healthy meals. Join this session and learn how building the path to stronger schools starts with making sure no child learns on an empty stomach.

Date: 8/13/2026 

Time: 10:45 AM−11:15 AM 

Be sure to register for MACo’s Summer Conference to attend this session and many more! 

MACo’s Summer Conference, “Build What’s Next,” will be held at the Roland Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, MD, on August 12-15, 2026. 

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference: