FYI,

 

The USDA is NOT extending the current waivers that have allowed schools and other organizations to provide meals during the pandemic. This week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said that the USDA does not have the authority to extend the waivers through the school year. If this decision holds, only children who are documented to be eligible for the National School Lunch Program will be able to get free school meals after Sept 30 or the beginning of the school year, whichever comes first.

Here is an article from the Alliance for Excellent Education:

https://all4ed.org/federal-flash-usda-decision-threatens-student-access-to-free-meals-during-covid-19/

And an article from Education Dive:

https://www.educationdive.com/news/disagreement-on-usda-waivers-could-hamper-school-meal-distribution/584128/

 

That is the bad news. The potential good news is that on July 30, a bill was introduced in the US House to provide free meals to all students during the 2020-2021 school year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a fact sheet about the Pandemic Child Hunger Prevention Act (HR 7887):

https://edlabor.house.gov/imo/media/doc/2020-07-30%20Free%20School%20Meals%20Bill%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

And here is information from cosponsor Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio:

https://fudge.house.gov/press-statements/fudge-scott-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-provide-free-school-meals-to-all-students-during-covid19-pandemic/

 

If you care to track this bill:

https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7887

 

 

All the best,

 

Sharon Rawlins, MLS, she/her/hers

Youth Services Specialist for Lifelong Learning

NJ State Library

185 West State St.

P.O. Box 520

Trenton, NJ 08625-0520

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609-278-2640 ext. 116

609-278-2650 – fax