Title: School Lunch Debt in America Explained | Eat This Not That
Headings: School Lunch Debt in America: What It Is and How to Get and Offer Help
School Lunch Debt in America: What It Is and How to Get and Offer Help
What is school lunch debt?
How does this problem occur in the first place?
Here's how you can get help if you are affected by school lunch debt.
What are some organizations that can help?
Solutions to resolving school lunch debt.
Cheyenne Buckingham
Filed Under

Content: For example, parents may not be informed about the options that are available to them. For a child to receive free and reduced-price lunches, parents have to fill out an application to see if they qualify. Parents also have to reapply annually to keep receiving coverage on school lunch funds. Children who come from families with an annual income at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals at school. For the 2019-20 school year, 130 percent of the poverty level is $33,475 for a family of four, according to SNA. Children from families who make an income that falls between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level ($47,638 for a family of four) can receive lunch for a fraction of the cost. Under this program, the student only pays 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. For comparison, the average elementary school breakfast and lunch costs $1.46 and $2.48, respectively. However, sometimes the reduced lunch price still doesn't support families enough. "There can be kids in that reduced-price category who struggle to pay that co-pay," says Pratt-Heavner. "