Millions of needy children have had an easier time getting free meals at school and over the summer thanks to waivers Congress authorized at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But that nourishment is now at risk. Lawmakers have not yet agreed to extend the waivers past June 30 in the full-year spending package unveiled early Wednesday morning.
Authorized by the US Department of Agriculture, the waivers allow schools to distribute free meals to all students without verifying their families’ income. They give districts the flexibility to offer grab-and-go meals for kids who are quarantining or studying remotely or to serve meals in classrooms instead of the cafeteria. And they provide schools with a higher reimbursement rate and more leeway if they can’t meet nutritional guidelines because of supply chain or staffing issues.
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