David Muñez, Rebecca Bull, Kerry Lee, Carola Ruiz
Heterogeneity in children at risk of math learning difficulties
Child development
past research higher intake fruit associated better academic achievement norway government required lower secondary schools provide fruit pupils 2007 2014 present study assessed whether policy improved academic performance addition secondary schools policy covered schools combined elementary lower secondary education ordinary elementary schools differentiation combination administrative data test scores law enforced created nationwide quasiexperiment population register data parents sociodemographic characteristics allowed targeted analyses subsample boys low sociodemographic status analyses 5th grade tests free fruit policy coincided slight decline test scores among eligible compared noneligible pupils subsample b 018 95ci 035 001 entire population b 014 95ci 024 005 exploratory analyses exam data 10th grade yielded similar results sensitivity tests either failed detect effect demonstrated negative tendency western country low levels food insecurity policy required schools provide free fruit pupils appear improve academic performance