Tighter federal rules end free meals for students in California and nationwide

Millions of students and families in California and nationwide who have come to rely on free grab-and-go meals during the past five months of the pandemic may no longer qualify for the food service.

Since the start of the Covid-19 closures, school districts have served millions of packaged meals at no cost and without eligibility requirements to all children at food distribution sites made possible by a series of federal waivers, the latest being the “Seamless Summer Option.”  Some districts, such as Los Angeles and Fresno Unified, even kicked in money from their general funds to also feed adults.