All students in Auburn School District to get free meals, school supplies beginning this year

AUBURN, Wash. — The Auburn School District has announced that all students will receive free breakfast and lunch, as well as all required school supplies for the upcoming school year and beyond.

Over 17,000 students will be eligible for free meals beginning in September through the end of the 2026 school year, after the district was approved to operate the federal Community Eligibility Provision, a meal service option for schools in low-income areas.

“Being able to continue to provide healthy, nutritious meals for all students is a great support for families in Auburn,” said Associate Superintendent Cindi Blansfield.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has allowed all K-12 students across the country to receive free meals since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but that program expired at the end of the 2021 - 2022 school year.

The district says it typically serves about 9,500 lunches and 5,500 breakfasts each day during the school year.

ASD will also provide students with all required school supplies beginning this fall.

“We are excited to make sure students have the necessary supplies to be successful in school,” said Blansfield. “We believe this is a great step to better support our students and families.”

The district will distribute grade-specific school supplies to students during the first week of school and will replenish supplies as needed throughout the year.

Schools in the district will also have supplies on hand for new students who enroll during the school year.

“The district made this change as part of its strategy to put equity into action,” a statement on the ASD website reads in part. “For some families, purchasing school supplies put a strain on the family budget. This shift provides each student with the correct school supplies for learning and removes the burden for families to buy them.”

A complete list of supplies that students in each grade will receive is available on the district’s website.

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