Schools are bracing for the impact on their students as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) teeters on the brink of running out of money amid the government shutdown.

SNAP funds had originally be set to run out Saturday, but a federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump administration to keep the program going so long as there are emergency funds available.

The roughly $5.25 billion emergency fund, however, is not enough to fully cover food stamps for November, which will cost the government upwards of $9 billion.

Officials in school districts with high rates of free or reduced meals told The Hill that worries about attendance, academic performance and behavior are mounting as nearly 42 million people are expected to lose access to the government program that subsidizes food cost for low-income Americans.

Some districts are starting food pantries or increasing the resources already provided to families, while others stress they cannot take on the responsibility of extra meals and are directing parents to local food banks.

Trevor Greene, superintendent of the Yakima School District in Washington, is expecting a “tremendous” blow to his district, which is in the 87th percentile for free and reduced lunches.

“As it now stands, we know that more of our students will be hungry in the evenings, but we do take some solace that they'll come to school the next day and be able to access the meals that we have for both breakfast and lunch. But I think we're going to see that impact........

© The Hill