Starting this September, all students in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia public schools will receive free breakfast and lunch regardless of family income, courtesy of a federal program.

Under the Community Eligibility Provision, all students in a given school or district become eligible for free breakfast and lunch if 40 percent of that school’s or school district’s population come from families receiving food stamps or welfare benefits.

The program, while new to Pennsylvania, has been in a pilot stage in 10 states and Washington, D.C., since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed in 2010.

“It’s a unique opportunity for schools to cut down on the stigma of which students get meals and which students don’t,” said Kevin Concannon, the U.S. Department of Agriculture undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer service.

This September New York City is launching a pilot program of universal free lunch in all middle schools, an initiative that the UFT lobbied for.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aug. 21