The School Meal Free-for-All is a Bad Deal for States and Students

Though the new Summer EBT program does not currently allow full-throated use of those standards, USDA has signaled its intent to expand eligibility—similar to that of P-EBT.14 President Biden’s USDA is seeking public feedback on the challenges of administering Summer EBT applications, signaling a desire to get rid of the application requirement.15 THE “TEMPORARY” P-EBT PROGRAM USED UNFETTERED CEP. [...] Under the new CEP standards, nearly three- quarters of public school students are now eligible for taxpayer-funded meals.22 UNDER THE NEW CEP STANDARDS, NEARLY THREE-QUARTERS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE NOW ELIGIBLE FOR TAXPAYER-FUNDED MEALS 5 THE SCHOOL MEAL FREE-FOR-ALL IS A BAD DEAL FOR STATES AND STUDENTS | MARCH 26, 2024 | TheFGA.org Biden’s USDA ambiguously expanded eligibility for the sch. [...] Dubiously close to the onset of the permanent Summer EBT program, a new USDA rule lowered eligibility standards for the taxpayer-funded school meal program.23 This is the latest reincarnation of a provision from President Biden’s disastrous Build Back Better plan, which was rejected by Congress.24 USDA amended the CEP by lowering the minimum identified student percentage (ISP) from 40 percent to 2. [...] Department of Agriculture 8 THE SCHOOL MEAL FREE-FOR-ALL IS A BAD DEAL FOR STATES AND STUDENTS | MARCH 26, 2024 | TheFGA.org The cost of these actions is not merely financial. [...] For the Left, a universal school meal program is the goal.56 The lower eligibility standards and permanent Summer EBT is a roundabout way toward the same desired result.