Line Grows Long for Free Meals at U.S. Schools- New York Times- November 29, 2011

“Among the first to call attention to the increases were Department of Education officials who use subsidized lunch rates as a poverty indicator in federal testing. This month, in releasing results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, they noted that the proportion of the nation’s fourth graders enrolled in the lunch program had climbed to 52 percent from 49 percent in 2009, crossing a symbolic watershed,” reports the New York Times.

There has been a massive increase in children relying on free or low-priced lunches at school.  Some schools have added free breakfast or dinner programs, fearing that some children may go hungry.  This upsurge follows many middle class parents getting laid-off or businesses closing entirely.  Many parents ask that their enrollment be kept secret and say they never expected to need these programs.




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