Prism: Families call for universal free lunch as Congress extends meal program through the summer

Five days before COVID-19 nutrition waivers were set to expire, President Joe Biden signed the Keep Kids Fed Act into law. The bill, which Congress passed on June 24, would increase reimbursements to schools and child care centers and grant access to summer meals through Sept. 30.

Though some families will receive nutrition waivers through the upcoming school year, families that do not qualify for free lunch will be required to pay again in the fall. Congress passed the act after revising it to include pre-pandemic lunch pricing based on family income. In the 2022-2023 school year, a family of four will need to make $36,075 per year or less for their students to receive free lunch. Students who do not qualify will be expected to pay for meals again. The price of school lunch varies by school district, but is expected to increase in many districts across the country…