Washington Students Can Receive Free Meals This Fall

SEATTLE — Students will be able to continue receiving meals at no cost when classes resume, alleviating some of the burden on families struggling to afford child care during the pandemic.

Many Washington families rely on schools to help keep their children fed. In fact, despite the pandemic closing schools last spring, the State Superintendent's office says more than 28 million meals were served to students who were remote learning.

Now, thanks to a last-minute decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend several waivers, students in need will be able to continue receiving those meals at no cost.

The announcement was celebrated by state school officials Monday.

"This pandemic requires our education system to be flexible and innovative in order to respond to student needs," said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. "I’m grateful to the advocates across the state who pushed for these waiver extensions with us. Washingtonians are working hard together to ensure our most vulnerable students and families have the food they need."

Related: Washington Recommends Most Schools Should Remain Remote This Fall

Reykdal's office says the waivers extend the Summer Food Service Program, allowing children aged 0 - 18 to receive breakfast and lunch at no cost through the end of 2020. How the meals will be distributed will vary depending on the district. Some districts, like the Puyallup School District, have developed programs to allow students to pick up meals at school buildings. Others may want to consider food delivery programs to help get meals to the students who need them most.

"We have worked hard to ensure that transporting food to students and families is an allowable use of transportation funds," Reykdal said.

How schools will distribute meals will also likely change as the pandemic does. Most districts in western Washington have announced that they will begin the year with classrooms closed and students learning entirely remotely, many have developed plans to resume in-person learning later in the year if and when the pandemic comes under control.

Now that the school meal program is funded through the end of 2020, Reykdal says Washington's next move will be to push the USDA and Congress to extend the funding through the full school year.