Over the weekend, the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved waivers submitted by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (SDE) to allow all Oklahoma students two free meals a day during the COVID-19 outbreak. U.S. Senator James Lankford helped facilitate that waiver for Oklahoma.
The waiver allows school districts to establish feeding sites for all students, not just those who are on free and reduced lunch prices.
“For many Oklahoma students, the meals available to them at school are the only meals they may have that day,” said Lankford. “This waiver is critical to ensure that we maintain the program’s purpose and allow the maximum flexibility of the rules during this very unique time in our nation. I am grateful for the work of our Oklahoma State Department of Education and for the swift action from the USDA to make sure this important program to feed children runs smoothly even in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.”
The federal rule holding up this move to feed students required for feeding sites to be established that 50 percent or more students in that district were eligible for free or reduced lunches.
Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister says now school districts can help make sure all their students are getting nutrition during the current situation which led to closing schools for the rest of the term.
“Amid such uncertainty and instability, we should not be asking our families or schools to worry over needless red tape,” Hofmeister said. “This waiver means that, following a simple application, any district in the state can establish feeding sites for up to two free meals a day for every student who needs one.”
The waiver is in effect until June 30, 2020, or until the federally declared public health emergency expires.
