With the backing of President Harry Truman, students in Morgan
Hill can still utilize the federal lunch program created in 1946 to
eat free of charge, even if they aren’t enrolled in summer
school.
With the backing of President Harry Truman, students in Morgan Hill can still utilize the federal lunch program created in 1946 to eat free of charge, even if they aren’t enrolled in summer school.
The National School Lunch Program is funding the meal program for the month-long summer session at Morgan Hill Unified School District. Students are welcome to eat for free, since the population taking classes at host school Britton Middle falls within Title 1 requirements, deeming students eligible for free and reduced lunches because of their family’s low-income level.
The NSLP, a $10 billion program annually, provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches and since 1998 Congress expanded the program to reimburse for snacks at after-school programs. California’s Department of Education utilizes the NSLP through its “Seamless Summer Feeding Option” which combines state lunch programs with NSLP so children in “low-income areas” will have nutritious food during the school day. It’s different than the state-funded free and reduced lunch program put on during the regular school year because it serves low-income areas and doesn’t identify specific children for eligibility.
MHUSD was approved for the program this summer and is allowed to serve any child 18 years or younger who comes to Britton for lunch. Children do not have to be enrolled in summer school.
“Children do not need to be signed up to be served – they just need to come between 10 a.m. and noon,” said Julie Zintsmaster, Superintendent Wes Smith’s secretary.
The federal standard is children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals during the regular school. In 2011, 130 percent of the poverty level in the United States is $28,665 per year for a family of four. Yet, this program is open to any child who walks through the door, no questions asked as to their family’s income level.
Since the first day at Britton on July 5 – where about 400 students are enrolled in summer school focused on special education, algebra readiness and kindergarten preparation – the food services staff have seen mostly young children grab a seat for lunch outside of the student population.
The school district said they don’t check the ages of young children who come in, but they may check IDs of teens in order to comply with the rules of the program.
To find out more about the summer lunch program, call 201-6126. Children may be dropped off at the Britton staff room on West Central Avenue; lunch is from 10 a.m. to noon every weekday through July 29.
