The Obama
administration has announced new plans to launch a pilot program
aimed at increasing poor children's access to food through the National School
Lunch Program. The program will allow participating states to use
Medicaid data to automatically certify students for free and reduced-price
school lunches. Currently, families have to submit an application — a
laborious process for parents and a costly one for schools — even when they have
already proven that they are income-eligible through their participation in
other government assistance programs. States must apply to participate in
the new effort. USDA plans initially to work with about five states in the
2016-2017 school year and eventually hopes to extend the program
nationally. It has already tested a smaller-scale version of the new
program in seven places, including New York City, where the program
has led to a 7% increase in meal enrollment.
Source:
Washington Post, 1/27/16, School
Lunch Expansion
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