Dinniman calls on USDA to ensure students have access to meals

State Sen. Andy Dinniman, D-19th, of West Whiteland, called on state and federal officials to work together to extend regulatory waivers to ensure that all Pennsylvania children continue to have access to school breakfast and lunch programs as the 20202021 school year approaches.

“This year our students need to be 100% focused on resuming quality learning and instruction in uncertain times and unprecedented circumstances,” said Dinniman, who serves as minority chair of the Senate Education Committee. “They shouldn’t be going hungry or wondering where their next meal is coming from. The vital changes made to these food programs in the spring and summer must be extended through this school year.”

In 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a series of data analysis reports by Feeding America, the percentage of Pennsylvania children facing food insecurity will rise to 23.8% – up from 15.1% in 2018 – an increase of 57.6%. Many of these children facing food insecurity rely on the national school breakfast and lunch programs.

However, schools across Chester County and Pennsylvania are considering moving forward with a variety of instructional models that include blended (hybrid) or fully virtual learning. These deviations from normal operations present hurdles for providing consistent access to food for an increasing number of children living in low-income households.

One of the ways school districts were able to help bridge that gap was through waivers to the Summer Food Service Program, the Seamless Summer Option and the Afterschool Meal and Snack Programs. These waivers:

• Significantly reduced administrative burdens, limited confusion of where meals can be accessed, allowed meals to be provided at locations most convenient for families and helped to limit overt identification of children from low-income households.

• Allowed communitybased nonprofit organizations to assist schools in meeting the needs of children at locations that work best for families, particularly on days when children are engaging in remote, virtual learning.

• Allow schools and community-based nonprofit meal sponsors to continue providing free meals to all children (including younger siblings of school-aged children who may not be receiving meals in a child-care setting).

• Allowed a third (evening) meal to be provided in combination with take-home breakfasts and lunches.

Unfortunately, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, these federal waivers are now set to expire Aug. 31, in conjunction with students returning to schools in a variety of educational models.

Dinniman, who worked with local school districts, including the Phoenixville Area School District, to bring the issue to the administration’s attention,

SUBMITTED PHOTO A local lawmaker is calling on state and federal officials to work together to extend regulatory waivers to ensure that all Pennsylvania children continue to have access to school breakfast and lunch programs.