USDA to reimburse for free school meals through June 2022

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will continue reimbursing schools and childcare centers for free meals to all students regardless of their income through the 2021-22 school year, USDA officials announced Tuesday.

Meal service waivers such as the “Seamless Summer Option” that made it possible for California districts to distribute millions of grab-and-go meals to students since campuses closed due to Covid-19 will be extended through June 2022, according to a USDA news release. The effort is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s “commitment to reopen safely,” the news release said.

“States and districts wanted waivers extended to plan for safe reopening in the fall; USDA answered the call to help America’s schools and childcare institutions serve high quality meals while being responsive to their local needs as children safely return to their regular routines,” USDA Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a news release. “This action also increases the reimbursement rate to school meal operators so they can serve healthy foods to our kids. It’s a win-win for kids, parents and schools.”

In addition to the flexibility of not having to check students’ income eligibility for free meals, districts are also able to set up flexible meal times based on their schedules and their students’ needs and can serve meals to students outside of normal school hours.

The news comes amid efforts on the state and federal level to permanently provide free meals to all students. Advocates say systemic barriers often prevent hungry children from accessing the free meals they are entitled to.