On April 20, 2021, the The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued flexibilities to allow for childcare and school meal programs to return to serving healthy meals beginning in the fall of 2021 in addition to supporting safety and social distancing.

“Students’ success in the classroom goes hand in hand with their ability to access basic needs like healthy and nutritious meals,” said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “It’s critical that our efforts to reopen schools quickly and safely include programs that provide access to free, healthy meals for our most vulnerable students, particularly those whose communities have been hardest hit by the pandemic. This program will ensure more students, regardless of their educational setting, can access free, healthy meals as more schools reopen their doors for in-person learning.”

Read the full press release.