Photo: AFP
Good news for students in California— all students now qualify for free breakfast and lunch regardless of income.
The new state budget will allocate $650 million for the universal school meal program allowing all public school students in CA to receive free meals at school.
Previously, parents and guardians had to provide income information in order for students to qualify for free or reduced breakfast and lunch. Now that will no longer be the case, and, there are no questions asked!
Think about this: Before the pandemic began, over 3.6 million California students qualified for free or reduced price meals at school. That's nearly 60% of all students in the state. Now, every single student qualifies. What a relief that must be for not only the students but also their parents.
In Southern California, the Santa Ana School District put their fleet of buses to use delivering bags of groceries to the neighborhoods where their students live, while the Los Angeles Unified School District set up grab and go sites on campuses throughout the district.
Carolyn McArdle talked about it on the air! Listen below....