>>USDA Free Lunch Program Ending
(Undated) -- A policy enacted during the pandemic that made free school meals universal is ending today. The Department of Agriculture's school nutritional waivers marked the first time in modern U.S. history that students were offered meals for free, regardless of their family income. While some states are taking action to implement programs that will bridge the gap, the School Nutrition Association warns that without the waivers school nutrition workers will have to scramble to reach out to families that haven't had to apply for assistance before. According to a USDA survey released back in March, 90 percent of those involved in school food choices have been making use of federal waivers. That includes both public and private schools.