News Update

East Bay state senator introduces bill for free meals for all students

East Bay senator Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, introduced a bill Wednesday in the California legislature that would allow every public school student to access free meals at their school, regardless of income eligibility.

Since the pandemic, California school districts have been offering free grab and go meals for all students, thanks to the federal Pandemic Child Prevention Act which reimburses districts for the meals. Before the pandemic, districts would only be reimbursed for free meals served to low-income students.

SB 364, dubbed “School Meals for All,” would allow districts to continue serving free meals to all students even after the pandemic. It would also establish an Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, program to provide students access to food during breaks and when schools are closed due to disasters.


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