Georgia joins lawsuit against USDA school lunch funding changes

Georgia is amongst 22 states concerned in a lawsuit in opposition to the U.S. Division of Agriculture. As the scholars return to class, states are pushing again in opposition to federal pointers that would revoke faculty lunch funding.

The USDA’s Meals and Vitamin Service introduced a brand new program in Might to fight discrimination based mostly on intercourse. New laws require faculties receiving federal diet funds examine allegations of gender and sexuality-based discrimination or danger dropping faculty lunch funding.

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack mentioned he desires this replace to result in adjustments.

“USDA is dedicated to administering all its applications with fairness and equity, and serving these in want with the very best dignity,” Vilsack mentioned. “A key step in advancing these rules is rooting out discrimination in any type.”

The 22 largely Republican-controlled states named within the lawsuit are Indiana, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia.

Georgia Faculty Vitamin Director Linette Dodson says federal funding helps most college students’ meals, not simply these within the free lunch program.

“Decreased meals are funded federally, aside from that 30 cents I discussed that is usually charged for breakfast, 40 cents that is usually charged for lunch,” she mentioned. “It helps maintain the paid worth at a decrease stage as a result of the federal funding helps offset that price.”

Traditionally, round 60% of scholars in Georgia certified without cost and decreased lunch. The numbers elevated throughout the pandemic when eligibility expanded, however these waivers lapsed this summer season.