Section 21 of the National School Lunch Act calls for "training and technical assistance to improve the skills of individuals employed in food service programs." CQS strongly supports this provision and recommends adequate funding to achieve these goals.

School food service workers see children every day and they play an important role in the lives of children. In order for school meal programs to be successful, school food service workers should receive more training to ensure they can effectively promote the health and well-being of students.

Children are among the most vulnerable to food borne illnesses. We believe that investing in programs that provide training and systems to maintain a high level of food safety is vital. With a greater emphasis on training we believe food service workers would be better equipped to handle the serious food safety risks School Districts face every day.

There is an additional benefit to improving the skills of school food service employees--supporting a stable, committed workforce. With the low wages and lack of health insurance that many school food service workers face, especially those who work for private contractors, it is difficult for even the most dedicated workers to afford to stay at these jobs By providing proper training and adequate wages and benefits, school districts can reduce employee turnover and improve productivity, reducing costs and improving program outcomes.