The USDA will provide an additional $1.3 billion to states and territories to support school meals. The additional funding is required as a result of inflation in the cost of food and labor to cover the 2023-2024 school year. Congress authorized post-COVID feeding programs under the Keep Kids Fed Act of 2022. The additional funding will be available through the Commodity Credit Corporation and will also support emergency food providers including food banks and community kitchens.

According to the non-profit Research and Action Center participation in school meals has declined since expiration of the Child Nutrition Waiver introduced during the COVID period. Comparing April with October 2022 covering 91 school districts in 40 states, daily breakfast servings declined from 1.84 million to 1.74 million. Lunch servings fell from 3.61 million to 3.36 million. School administrators are calling for restoration of universal feeding to alleviate hunger and to enhance academic achievement.