SB 720

This bill provides additional state aid to public and private schools in this state

that provide free meals to all pupils.

Under current law, the Department of Public Instruction makes payments to

school districts, private schools, independent charter schools, tribal schools, the

Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the

Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired to partially match the federal

contribution under the National School Lunch Program, under which schools

provide free or reduced-price lunches to low-income children. Currently, the state

share for school lunches is a variable percentage of the amount of the federal basic

reimbursement, which is then allocated among eligible schools according to the

number of lunches served during the prior school year.

Also under current law, DPI provides a per meal reimbursement to school

districts, private schools, and tribal schools that provide breakfast to pupils under

the federal School Breakfast Program. Currently, the state provides a per meal

reimbursement of $0.15 for each breakfast served under the program, but, if there

is insufficient funding to pay the full amount, DPI prorates the payments.

Under the bill, a school is eligible for additional state reimbursement for

lunches and breakfasts served in a school year if the school 1) participates in both

the National School Lunch Program and the federal School Breakfast Program for

the school year; and 2) for each school day in which school is in session during the

school year, provides to any pupil who requests one, at no cost to the pupil, one lunch

and one breakfast that meet the federal food, nutritional, and other requirements for

meals served under the federal programs. Under the bill, DPI must reimburse an

eligible school a per meal amount that is equal to the federal reimbursement rate

applicable to the eligible school under the applicable federal program for a meal

served to a pupil who satisfies the income eligibility criteria for a free lunch, minus

any amount the eligible school receives from the federal government to pay for those

meals. In other words, the bill guarantees that an eligible school will receive a total

amount in state and federal aid that will reimburse the eligible school an amount

equal to the free meal reimbursement rate for each meal the eligible school serves.

The additional state reimbursement under the bill is available to school

districts, independent charter schools, private schools, tribal schools, residential

care centers for children and youth, the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for

the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually

Impaired that meet the eligibility requirements.

Under the bill, if a school does not meet the eligibility requirements for the

additional state reimbursement for a school year, all of the following apply:

1. If the school participates in the National School Lunch Program for the

school year, DPI will reimburse the school an amount required to meet the state's

matching obligation under the federal program.