November 4, 2024
Beginning in the 2027–2028 school year, families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals will no longer have to pay junk fees to add money to their child’s school meal account. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the policy on November 3, saying schools should strive to implement the change as soon as possible. A report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released earlier this year found that online processing fees burden families with low incomes the most.