School officials say that meal debt is reaching unseen levels, reports NPR. This is likely exacerbated by the unexpected switch from pandemic-era free meals to a paid system for many U.S. public elementary schools.
A survey from the School Nutrition Association found that school districts had over $19 million in unpaid meal debt. The biggest debt came from districts in the Midwest and Great Plains.
When school meals were free at many schools, over 80 million more meals were served compared to the year before the pandemic. After the switch, school districts have indicated that families are struggling to afford meals.
Rich Luze, a nutrition leader for an Iowa school district noted a problem when swapping out free meals.
"Giving it for two years, or whatever, and then abruptly stopping it, instead of phasing it down... that could have helped families prepare to readjust and rethink," said Luze.
Lawmakers are seeking solutions to this debt issue: some states have mandated universal free meals for students, and more are considering similar rulings. The existing free and reduced-price lunch system tends to be complicated, and families fall through the cracks, according to the report. Full Story
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