Crosscut Now
Aug. 30, 2022 - WA will keep giving out free school lunches
8/30/2022 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
Universal free school lunch is ending — but not for all WA students.
The number of Washington schools that qualify to offer free lunch to every student could more than double since before the pandemic after a $44 million change in state law.
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Crosscut Now is a local public television program presented by Cascade PBS
Crosscut Now
Aug. 30, 2022 - WA will keep giving out free school lunches
8/30/2022 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
The number of Washington schools that qualify to offer free lunch to every student could more than double since before the pandemic after a $44 million change in state law.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(reverent news music) - I'm Jay Martin, Jr., in the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.
(gentle music) Universal free school lunch is ending, but Washington is expanding a program to give more students food.
A new state law set aside $44 million to more than double the number of schools where all students can continue to get free lunches.
The universal lunch program, a federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ended this past June, despite calls from advocates.
It ends at a time when families are feeling increasingly pressured by inflation.
Washington's school lunch program won't be returning to pre-pandemic rules this fall after a change in state law.
The new law requires schools to apply for USDA's Community Eligibility Provision program, allowing them to offer free meals to all students if more than 40% of attendees qualify for assistance.
I'm Jay Martin, Jr. Find nonprofit Northwest news every day on crosscut.com.
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Crosscut Now is a local public television program presented by Cascade PBS