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A surge in student hunger — brought on by the suspension of a federal food assistance program beginning Saturday — will manifest as crisis in classrooms, decreased academic performance and increased behavioral challenges, Iowa school leaders say.

Iowa schools are stocking their food pantries, anticipating more families could face food insecurity as the government shutdown is expected to extend into November, delaying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, payments.

About 133,000 Iowa households receive benefits through SNAP and nearly two-thirds of participants live in families with children, said Anne Discher, executive director of Common Good Iowa.

“It will be a true crisis fo

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