SB 172 - This act establishes the Missouri Free School Meals Program to reimburse schools for providing free breakfasts and lunches to all students, regardless of whether those students are eligible for free meals under federal guidelines. Under the act, a school that participates in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National School Lunch Program but is not eligible to have all student meals reimbursed at the free rate through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision shall participate in the Missouri Free School Meals Program. A school that is eligible for all student meals to be reimbursed at the free rate through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision shall participate in such Provision in order to participate in the Missouri Free School Meals Program.
A school that participates in the Missouri Free School Meals Program shall participate in both the USDA School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program. Such a school shall provide to all students at no cost up to two meals per school day, with a maximum of one free breakfast and one free lunch.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall reimburse a school that participates in the Missouri Free School Meals Program in an amount equal to the difference between the federal reimbursement rate for a free meal and the actual reimbursement received by the school.
OLIVIA SHANNON