Starting this fall, free breakfasts, lunches available for all CPS students (Chicago Public Schools)

[alp227]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Starting this fall, all Chicago Public Schools students will be able to get free breakfast and lunch at school.

The high number of students living at the poverty level in the district qualified CPS to meet the required threshold for full reimbursement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, according to CPS officials.

In the past school year, lunch at a typical elementary school for students who didn’t qualify for assistance cost an average of about $2.45. High schools charges slightly more.

The district expects to serve 72 million meals to students in the coming year, two million more than during the last school year.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-starting-this-fall-free-breakfasts-lunches-available-for-all-cps-students-20140703,0,6007059.story

[QED]

1. Hopefully this will help many CPS students.

It's awfully hard to learn on an empty stomach.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

2. That's a fantastic idea, and one I'd like to see carried over to other districts.

I know I'd vote for it if they put a levy on our local ballot to raise property taxes specifically to give every kid free breakfasts and lunches. Make a lot more sense than the levies they generally run.

[demigoddess]

7. all the states and

then single payer health care.

[Louisiana1976]

3. That's good news. Hungry kids can't learn as well.

[Skittles]

5. CORRECT

[abelenkpe]

4. They do this in LA too

Great program. My kids teachers felt it helped a lot. Hope it works out in Chicago too

[YvonneCa]

6. San Diego County too. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

14. Nashville is starting it this year as well. n/t

[knitter4democracy]

8. We had this at my old school before we closed.

It was such a good thing. Kids were able to get the food they needed without worry, and it took the stress off everyone.

[sheshe2]

9. So much easier for them to focus with a full tummy.

This is wonderful alp, thanks for the thread

[ColesCountyDem]

10. EVERY school in the nation should do this! n/t

[yurbud]

11. Has Rahm left any public schools open?

[SheilaT]

12. Good.

Recently I've come to the realization that meals should be free for students as well as teachers and staff at all public schools.

[juajen]

16. Additionally,

It would give more hours to the lunchroom women who probably need the hours and a a raise.

[Uncle Joe]

13. This is a good thing.

Thanks for the thread, alp.

[rickyhall]

15. Wish I'd had it when I was in school.

I grew up on corn flakes & milk, always hungry by 10 o'clock. I think Colorado had free lunch but not Texas. There we were lucky to get 4 cent milk.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Excellent! My school does this.

Makes lunch so easy.

[jwirr]

18. I hope MN does this.

[whistler162]

19. Obviously a plot by Rahm!

[shenmue]

20. Thank God

[wordpix]

21. let's hope the food is good. When I worked in DC public schools,

many days the kids wouldn't eat the food so ate crummy chips, candy and soft drinks instead. If the school food were better, they would have eaten it.