After 1950, funding provided by the federal government for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) declined significantly even as participation grew. Funding cuts had immediate impacts: schools replaced their lost revenue by charging students lunch fees. By the 1960’s, these fees were the largest source of funding for most school lunch programs. But for low-income schools, charging students was not a viable solution. While overall participation in the NSLP doubled in its early years, the proportion of students receiving free or reduced-price lunches through the program dropped significantly, contributing to the inequities of race and class endemic in the program.