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School lunches aren't free to everyone anymore. Some advocates think they should be.

Jun 30, 2022
There are a lot of benefits to making school lunch and other social benefits more universal. But, yes, it's expensive to do.
Despite the popularity of universal free lunches during the pandemic, lawmakers allowed the program to expire.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images

School districts address lunch shaming

Sep 1, 2017
This year, districts must have formal policies for handling unpaid bills.
Students at a Chicago elementary school dig into a salad bar in the school's lunchroom.
Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Lunch shaming is on its way out of schools

Aug 11, 2017
Local school policies address how to deal with unpaid meal charges.
Adriene Hill/Marketplace

How LAUSD raised the bar for chicken lunches

May 3, 2017
The school district looked for quality in the food and the supply chain, and 'no one could meet their standards,' L.A. Times reporter says.
School children pick up their lunches from the cafeteria at the Normandie Avenue Elementary School in Los Angeles.
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

To measure poverty, states look beyond free lunch

Jun 23, 2015
As more schools opt to feed all students, officials find other ways to rate need.

School lunch's food fight

Apr 15, 2015
Critics say rules on nutritional content make the meals unappealing and costly.

Farm-to-table movement comes to school cafeterias

Nov 20, 2014
15 school districts in California take up the challenge to serve healthier lunchroom meals made from local ingredients.

For public good, not for profit.

What are we going to do with all these surplus cranberries?

Dec 24, 2013
Cranberry farmers, facing an oversupply, have a plan to create a new market.