Research

My research agenda spans education policy, health policy, and the social safety net. Across these areas, I study how public institutions and programs affect access to services, well-being, and opportunity, particularly for children and young people.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Universal Free School Meals and Medicaid Spending: Evidence from Linked Education and Claims Data in Arkansas
Health Affairs Scholar, 4(8), qxag196, 2026.
Joe Sundell, Harneet Kaur, Gwendolyn M. Lawson, Xueying Ma, Bradley C. Martin, J. Mick Tilford, Joseph W. Thompson, and Michael R. Thomsen.

Central Adiposity Versus Body Mass Index in Assessment of Adiposity-Related Differences in Physical Activity Among Schoolchildren Aged 5–12 Years in High-Risk Neighborhoods
Sports, 14(9), 394, 2026.
Matthew J. Barenie, Michael R. Thomsen, Harneet Kaur, Erin K. Howie, Christopher M. Murphy, and Kari A. Weber.

Revise and Resubmit

A Pre-Post Evaluation of Clinic-Based Produce Prescriptions for Patients with Cancer
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Peter DelNero, Harneet Kaur, Amber Kaufman, Alyssa Frisby, Jeanette Shack, Tess Bentley, Ciara Jenkins, Harriet Farley, Anne Marie Morse, Gina Drobena, and Michael R. Thomsen.

Under Review

Behavioral and Mental Health Diagnoses and School Discipline: Evidence from Linked Administrative and Claims Data
Harneet Kaur, Joe Sundell, Gwendolyn Lawson, Bradley Martin, Mick Tilford, Joseph W. Thompson, and Michael R. Thomsen.

Exploring the Move Away from Zero-Tolerance Policies: Evidence from Restorative Justice Practices in Texas and Michigan Schools
Harneet Kaur.

Asymmetric Effects: SNAP Caseloads When Work Requirements Are Dropped and Reinstated
Sarah Hamersma and Harneet Kaur.

Manuscripts in Preparation

  • Universal Free School Meals and Disciplinary Disparities: Evidence from Linked Education and Health Data
    Harneet Kaur, Joe Sundell, Bradley C. Martin, J. Mick Tilford, and Michael R. Thomsen.
  • The Landscape of Universal Free School Meals in the United States: Adoption, Incidence, and Measurement, 2012–2024
    Shuoli Zhao, Qingxiao Li, Michael R. Thomsen, and Harneet Kaur.
  • Mental Health Care Access and Student Disability Identification
    Harneet Kaur.
  • Exploring the Relationship Between Mental Health Issues in Youth and Later-Life Economic Outcomes
    Harneet Kaur.

Works in Progress

  • Mental Health Access and School Discipline: Evidence from North Carolina — Harneet Kaur
  • Peer Aggression Exposure and District Exit: Evidence from Student Victimization Reports and Administrative Records — joint with Ying Shi
  • When Weather Keeps Children Inside: Outdoor Recess Disruptions and School Discipline — joint with Michael R. Thomsen
  • Weather, Recess, and School-Day Physical Activity: Evidence from Accelerometer-Based Measures — joint with Michael R. Thomsen and Kari A. Weber