A student prepares lunch in the cafeteria during the first day of school at Stamford High School on September 08, 2020 in Stamford, Connecticut.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many school districts nationwide delayed the first day of school until a WASHINGTON - Public schools have been serving all students free meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that is likely coming to an end this summer after Congress rejected calls to maintain federal funding to extend the practice.
The pandemic disrupted many aspects of education, including the ability for public schools to continue offering quality meals through government child nutrition programs.
At the onset of the crisis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the federal government’s National School Lunch Program, granted COVID-19 waivers to increase flexibility and meet the dietary needs of children during a time hampered by strict regulations.