Federal Funds Provide Free Lunches For More Illinois Kids
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CBS) -- Federal money is going to help more Illinois kids get a free lunch at school.
As WBBM Newsradio 780's Dave Dahl reports, a school with at least some free lunch participation can qualify for free lunch for everyone at the school.
"If the school has 40 percent of students eligible for free and reduced lunch, that school; that district can choose to make that building eligible to receive 100 percent free lunch, no charge, and that, we think will remove some of the stigma of the free and reduced lunch," said Mary Fergus, a spokeswoman for the Illinois State Board of Education.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780's Dave Dahl reports
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture chose Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to be in the first phase of a program that is part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act.
President Barack Obama signed the act into law last year.
All states will be participating by 2014.
