Expand the National School Lunch Program to include virtual public school students

Since 1946, the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) has been a godsend for millions of food insecure families. Unfortunately, thanks to the policy's antiquated definition of "school", approximately 347,000* virtual public school students are not receiving free lunch benefits, even if they would have qualified based on their family's income. Food insecure families are being penalized because they chose an innovative educational option for their child, as the 1946 law requires meals to be served only at physical school buildings. As a result, full-time virtual students are not receiving the same nutrition benefits as their brick and mortar peers.

The provision was changed during the pandemic through waivers for brick and mortar students learning online, and we believe it should be changed permanently to extend the benefit to full-time virtual public school students. Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture must act to ensure no child that qualifies for NSLP goes without a proper lunch.

Click here to read the letter PSO sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the issue, along with the response we received from the Secretary.

Is your family impacted by this issue? If so, Congress needs to hear from you! Contact us to share your story.