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Release: Minn. House passes COVID-19 assistance package; includes extension for families to apply for free or reduced-price lunches

Monday, December 14, 2020

St. Paul, Minnesota — Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed new COVID-19 assistance legislation for Minnesotans. The assistance package contains a provision that would give an extension to school districts during the current pandemic to collect forms from families eligible for free and reduced lunch.

“It’s been challenging during the pandemic for schools to connect with eligible families about their opportunity to apply for free and reduced-price lunches,” said Education Finance Chair Jim Davnie (DFL-Minneapolis).

The information is critical in determining how much compensatory education aid a school qualifies for, aid targeted at programs to support low income students. “Extending this deadline for eligible and reporting students’ meal support helps assure more stable school finances so schools can better meet the needs of these children,” Rep. Davnie stated.

The legislation extends the current deadline to apply from December 15 to January 4, 2021. Because many schools are in distance or hybrid learning models this year due to COVID-19, school districts have asked for additional time to collect this information from families.

A recent public remote hearing of the House Education Finance Committee heard supportive testimony from the Minnesota Department of Education, Minnesota Independent School Forum, Ed Allies, Hunger Solutions, Schools for Equity and Education, and the Minnesota School Board Association. All organizations stressed the urgency to act due to the challenges families are experiencing accessing and returning the application forms for free or reduced-price lunch.

The Minnesota Senate approved the companion legislation and is expected to be signed by the governor.

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