#national school lunch program

A newly released report, “Equity on the Menu: The Case for Universal Free School Meals,” warns that federal school meal programs are not reaching many students in Hawaiʻi households that are struggling to make ends meet.

Hawaiʻi’s reimbursement rate for school meals and other federal child nutrition programs has been increased to 30% above the continental US rates, which is projected to bring an additional $8 million a year to Hawaiʻi to support healthy meals for children.

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education announced today that 86 public schools will serve meals free of charge over the summer to children ages 18 years and younger, regardless of public school enrollment status, through its summer food service program. Beginning in early June, the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program will serve meals at select […]

The rate increase for the federal child nutrition programs is expected to bring in an additional estimated $8 million a year to Hawai‘i.

“Our free summer meal program underway should provide families some time to transition back to normal school food services, and we strongly encourage those eligible for free and reduced-price meals to apply as soon as applications become available,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said.

Application forms for free and reduced-price school meals for children unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program are being mailed home with a letter to parents or guardians for School Year (SY) 2020-21.