Well, well, well, it seems some states are really stepping up to the plate (pun intended) to make sure children don’t go hungry now that the National Public Health Emergency funding has expired. California is leading the pack with a universal free school meal plan, with some other states like Colorado, Minnesota, and Maine following close behind. And let’s not forget New Mexico, Vermont, and Michigan, who have also signed on for the free meal bandwagon.
Of course, each state has their own guidelines for funding and what qualifies as a reimbursable meal, but the general idea is the same: provide free meals to all kids. These bills are meant to be supplemental to the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs to cover all the students who qualify for reduced meals or don’t qualify at all for NSLP and SBP.
Families need to fill out an Application for Education Benefits form to determine whom the school will receive reimbursement from, federal or state. And to make sure the state funds are allocated properly; schools need to keep track of which program each student is on and make sure they’re serving up USDA approved meals.
Schools have added responsibility now that these programs are in place. Schools must keep accurate auditable records of breakfast and lunch programs, in compliance with regulatory standards. These records need to be easily accessible to state agencies for review. This transparency eliminates compliance issues. School authorities must take responsibility and make arrangements for maintaining these records to high standards.
Additionally, schools are required to comply with USDA meal pattern guidelines and NSLP/SBP standards which dictate that only one meal per student per breakfast and lunch service is allowed. Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in fines or loss of reimbursement, which can be detrimental for both the school and its students. Accurate tracking is also necessary for students who are served a meal but are missed in the count or not accurately marked down, as no reimbursement will be rewarded in such cases.
To aid schools in keeping records accurately so there is no worry of fines or missed opportunities, Companies like IDconnect have developed affordable programs to aid in precises identification and record keeping. The Activity Tracker software program, keeps track of which program (NSLP/SBP or Free Meals for All) the student is on. It calculates a running total meal count that can be imputed to the schools’ state agency at the end of each month. It also provides food service administration an accurate auditable record that they can present to the state agency upon request.
Free student lunch programs are an investment in our children’s future. By providing them with the proper nutrition, we are helping to ensure they have the fuel they need to succeed academically and beyond. Underfunded school lunch services are finally getting a step towards being able to sustain themselves with funding through these federal and state funds. Accuracy, security and precision are all needed to ensure proper use of these programs. Which state will be next?