Hawaii Kids Could Lose Access To Free Meals At School With End Of Federal Funding …Public school students have been eligible for free breakfast and lunch during the pandemic through a program that is set to expire in June.
The opportunity for all Hawaii public school students to get free meals at school during the pandemic could end at the close of the school year, potentially cutting off thousands of kids from access to nutritious meals.
When the pandemic hit two years ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the nation’s school meal program, waived certain restrictions, allowing all children nationwide to get free school meals. The loosening of rules was designed to help blunt the educational, health and economic impacts of the pandemic.
The waivers also gave schools more flexibility, allowing them to provide things such as grab-and-go meals and multiple meals pick-ups on school campuses. The USDA also provided a higher meal reimbursement rate for schools to ease the financial cost.
