PENNSYLVANIA, USA — More Pennsylvania schoolchildren will be receiving free school meals this year thanks to an expansion of a national funding program.
The threshold for the national Community Eligibility Provision for free school meals will decrease this year. Only 25% of students in a school district will now have to be eligible for free meals for the district to qualify for additional federal funding. The threshold was previously 40%.
As a result, districts such as Central Dauphin will now be able to provide free school breakfast and lunch for all of its students in the district, regardless of eligibility. The district made the announcement on social media last week.
Pediatricians say that well-fed students do better in school and will also be healthier in the long run.
"It decreases the incidence of obesity, you know, for now and also in the future," said Wellspan pediatrician Dr. Vinithia Moopen. "And it also decreases the incidence of developing chronic ailments like diabetes or high blood pressure."
Dr. Moopen says this will not only benefit the students eating the meals themselves.
"Our children have a better chance of doing well in school," she said. "They will be healthier children, which lead to healthier adults. And that can only benefit our communities."