Our nation's economic crisis is hitting low-wage workers hardest. The result is a significant increase in the number of families qualifying for free and reduced price meals. School meals are the best opportunity for needy children to get a nutritionally adequate diet. Therefore schools must have the resources they need to make these meals the very best they can be.

The Federal reimbursement rate for a free school lunch is currently $2.57. Since the reimbursement rate for free lunches is the largest school meal program subsidy provided by the federal government it acts as a benchmark for the cost of producing meals. As many child advocacy groups have pointed out, providing a healthful, nutritious meal that meets Federal guidelines at this funding level is difficult at best; we believe a substantive increase in the reimbursement rate is needed. Americans concerned about hunger and obesity want school cafeterias to do more at a time when School Districts are facing tough choices as they struggle with steep budget cuts. Districts should not be put in the position of having to choose between serving healthy meals and keeping teachers in the classroom. We need to provide sufficient resources to ensure the nutritional needs of children are met.

These reforms should include adjusting reimbursement rates to reflect the cost of living in different regions of the country. Data shows that there are parts of the country where costs exceed those experienced in Alaska and Hawaii--the only two areas that receive higher reimbursement rates. Applying a regional index based on existing economic data would help alleviate the financial burden this discrepancy has placed on some districts.