This is made possible due to a waiver extension from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that allows schools to serve free meals to all children. In a news release from April, the USDA said schools that choose this option will receive a higher-than-normal reimbursement for each meal, which will help them provide more nutritious meals.
“Students’ success in the classroom goes hand in hand with their ability to access basic needs like healthy and nutritious meals,” Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in the release. “It’s critical that our efforts to reopen schools quickly and safely include programs that provide access to free, healthy meals for our most vulnerable students, particularly those whose communities have been hardest hit by the pandemic. This program will ensure more students, regardless of their educational setting, can access free, healthy meals as more schools reopen their doors for in-person learning.”
FBISD continues to encourage families to apply for the free and reduced meal program due to its other benefits both for families and the district. The district provides more information on these benefits here, and families can apply here.
The first day of school in FBISD is Aug. 11.
