Photo: Getty Images
The new school year has started for many students in California, and the state is officially the first to offer free meals to all students.
Ahead of the 2022-2023 school year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation that establishes a universal meal program. Under the new law, all kindergarten through 12th grade public schools must provide two free meals, breakfast and lunch, during each school day to students requesting a meal, regardless of the student's free or reduced-price meal eligibility.
In addition to making free meals available to all, the law also provides $150 million in funding to support kitchen infrastructure upgrades and nutrition related staff training for districts preparing to implement the universal meals program.