Bill > H700

This bill amends existing Massachusetts education law to require commonwealth virtual schools to provide free lunch to all students, regardless of their household income. The bill mandates that virtual schools maximize federal funding for meals by adopting either the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision 2, which are federal programs designed to reduce administrative burden and increase access to school meals for students. Virtual schools can also use other federal meal program provisions, such as those outlined in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The state's education department is required to reimburse virtual schools for the difference between the federal funding received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the free meal rate set annually by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. This legislation aims to ensure that students attending virtual schools have access to nutrition support, similar to students in traditional in-person schools, by removing financial barriers to meal access.

Education

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H700