Governor Cuomo announced that students impacted by the government shutdown will still have access to free school meals.
Several districts in Western New York participate in the Community Eligibility Program that provides free breakfast and lunch for all students. This program is funded by The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, one of the departments partially shut down.
Cuomo insists that during the government shutdown students will still have access to these free lunches. Families can also still apply for the free or reduced price program.
As part of his No Student Goes Hungry program, Cuomo requires districts to ensure every student is provided a school meal. Under the program, Cuomo says the State Education Department would "direct school districts to contact families that may be impacted by the shutdown and inform them that their children will be able to access free school lunch and meals during the shutdown."
For more on the concerns of the school districts participating in the free lunch program, check out our earlier article here.
