The Michigan Department of Education is getting nearly $1 million in federal money to help fund meals for students, and pay for the workers and equipment needed for those programs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday, May 17, it awarded Michigan $992,494 to help build and retain its school nutrition workforce, implement standards for the national school lunch and breakfast programs and expand partnerships with farmers and producers to give schools more locally grown food.
“School meals are a proven approach to improving nutrition security,” USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Administrator Cindy Long said in the announcement. “Research shows that they are the most nutritious foods most children receive in the day.”
From these nutrition training grants, MDE will award sub-grants to local school authorities for “supplies for food demonstrations and tastings, small kitchen equipment and cafeteria signage and the production and printing of education materials,” the USDA said.
“This funding will provide support for the dedicated and committed school nutrition workforce in Michigan to ensure schools in the state can serve meals that are not only nutritious but that kids will enjoy,” FNS Midwest Regional Administrator Vista Fletcher said.
MDE is one of eight state agencies across the country and one of three in the Midwest that have received nutrition training grants. Money given to Michigan, Alabama, Indiana, Minnesota, Virginia, Montana, North Dakota and Washington has totaled $7.1 million.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic started disrupting schools and supply chains in 2020, school meals have been free to all students regardless of their family income. That policy, however, is dependent on federal aid that expires in June and has yet to be renewed.
In the absence of congressional assistance, free and reduced-cost meals will revert to being available only to students who financially qualify, which officials worry will hurt families who have not had to budget for school meals for two years.
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