USDA to eliminate school meal ‘junk fees’ for low-income families

By Anna Merod 

Starting in the 2027-28 school year, schools will be prohibited from charging junk fees to low-income families for meals served through the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday.

The new policy will only apply to students who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals, but the USDA wants to eventually expand the ban on school meal junk fees for more students. 

“Today’s action is a first step. USDA will examine fees charged to families with a goal of eliminating online junk fees for all families regardless of income level to further remove barriers to access healthy meals,” the federal agency said in a statement on Friday.

Junk fees are online processing fees that come with purchasing school meals as more schools shift to cashless operations. 

Starting in the 2027-28 school year, schools will be prohibited from charging junk fees to low-income families for meals served through the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday.

The new policy will only apply to students who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals, but the USDA wants to eventually expand the ban on school meal junk fees for more students. 

“Today’s action is a first step. USDA will examine fees charged to families with a goal of eliminating online junk fees for all families regardless of income level to further remove barriers to access healthy meals,” the federal agency said in a statement on Friday.

Junk fees are online processing fees that come with purchasing school meals as more schools shift to cashless operations. 

https://www.k12dive.com/news/usda-school-meal-junk-fees-ban-reduced-price-meals/731741/