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Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(115,611 posts)
Thu Oct 17, 2024, 12:44 PM Oct 17

70% of Washington public school students now have access to free meals

Nearly 800,000 kids are eating free meals in school after the Legislature expanded access — but the state will need to come up with more money if it wants to continue the program.

That’s according to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, which announced on Tuesday that 70% of Washington’s kids now have access to school meals at no cost to students or families.

But the state underestimated how many students would participate — leading Superintendent Chris Reykdal to request an additional $17.6 million in the 2025-2027 budget cycle to continue feeding this many kids.

The office’s request says that the gap in funding can also be attributed to adjustments in how much the federal government reimburses for its free meal program and an increase in students who meet the income requirements. About 50.1% of students are designated as low-income this year, up from 46.8% in the 2019-2020 school year.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/10/16/70-of-washington-public-school-students-now-have-access-to-free-meals/

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70% of Washington public school students now have access to free meals (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Oct 17 OP
Good... Lovie777 Oct 17 #1
What about the other 30%? Grins Oct 17 #2

Grins

(7,905 posts)
2. What about the other 30%?
Thu Oct 17, 2024, 01:06 PM
Oct 17

$17.6 million over 2 years is peanuts for a state like Washington.

What I don’t like about an “income requirements” test is that it stigmatizes those who need it, spotlighting who they are leading to shaming. And that is powerful.

Better is what Walz did in Minnesota - free for everyone. Especially because Republicans HATE that…

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