U.S. Expands Free School Meals, Cultivating a Future Where Every Child is Fueled for Success

In a heartening move towards ensuring no child learns on an empty stomach, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a pivotal expansion in its school meals program, set to benefit millions of students across the nation. The initiative, which comes amidst the echoes of the pandemic and rising food prices, aims to provide a stable source of nutrition to students in schools serving low-income communities.

Under the new rule, schools where at least 25% of families participate in income-based public benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, will now have the federal government covering the cost of free meals for all enrolled students. This marks a significant decrease from the previous qualifying threshold of 40%, thereby widening the net of beneficiaries.

The change is anticipated to bring roughly 3,000 additional school districts under its umbrella, thereby extending the benefits to over 5 million students. Stacy Dean, USDA deputy undersecretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, remarked, “While there is still more work ahead to ensure every K-12 student in the nation can access healthy school meals at no cost, this is a significant step on the pathway toward that goal.”

The initiative, known as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), simplifies access to nutritious meals by eliminating the need for families to fill out individual applications for free or reduced-price meals. Instead, schools participating in the program receive federal funding based on income data, with local or state money filling any gaps in the cost of offering meals to all students. This not only ensures that children do not go hungry but also reduces administrative burdens, making the process more streamlined and effective.

Despite some criticisms regarding the costs of the program, advocates highlight the crucial need for such an initiative, especially considering the outdated federal poverty guidelines. Anna Korsen, policy and program director at Full Plates Full Potential, emphasized, “There are so many families that on paper don’t qualify for a free meal...But really, those families are living paycheck to paycheck.”

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack views the rule change as a stride towards fulfilling the promise of healthy school meals for all, stating, “Increasing access to free, healthy school breakfast and lunch will decrease childhood hunger, improve child health and student readiness, and put our nation on the path to better nutrition and wellness.”

In a world where the pandemic has exacerbated economic disparities and placed a strain on many families, this initiative by the USDA stands as a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of collective action towards nourishing the future of the nation – its children.

Source: [AP News](https://apnews.com/article)

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