Good Morning America: California pioneers new free lunch program to feed more than 6M students

By Kelly McCarthy

An unexpected budget surplus in the 2021-22 fiscal year acted as a catalyst to serve free lunches to 6.2 million public school students in California.

Starting this fall when schools and classrooms reopen, all students regardless of their family’s income will have the option to eat school meals for free.

I am excited about the interconnected nature of these historic investments that move forward universal access to school meals for all students, universal preschool, and afterschool expanded learning programs, such as the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program—all critical areas in ensuring equitable opportunities for California’s students,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said in a statement.

Read the entire article here.