The Houston Independent School District has found a way to help all the families it serves in the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey. On Wednesday the district announced that it will waive the required application process for the National School Lunch/School Breakfast Program and provide free meals to all students this school year.
The Houston Chronicle reports that the district released a statement Wednesday that read, “All HISD students will eat all school meals for free during the 2017-2018 school year.”
The district received approval from both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture to waive the required application process, but is asking that families complete the application anyway.
“The waiver will allow all HISD students to receive free lunch for the school year. Despite the federal waiver, HISD is still asking parents and guardians to complete and return the application,” the district added in its statement.
Parents and guardians with students in HISD schools can access the National School Lunch/School Breakfast Program applications and surveys online here.
The waiver will go into effect immediately when schools in the district reopen after the storms.
Houston schools Superintendent Richard Carranza told the Chronicle, “The flooding that is affecting the city of Houston has been devastating to so many. Some of the areas that are the hardest hit are filled with working parents whose limited funds will need to go toward recovery efforts.”
Another way the district is looking to offer support is by providing dinner to students as well.
The district said in its statement: “Just last week, the Texas Department of Agriculture approved the district’s application to offer free supper to all of the district’s students. This latest announcement supports the district’s goals of reducing food insecurity and providing food to as many students as possible.”
This is a really good look on the Houston Independent School District. Bravo.
Read more at the Houston Chronicle.