Federal lunch program helps downstate Illinois schools

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) - Southern Illinois school districts are taking advantage of a federal school meals program that allows all students in qualifying schools to eat for free.

The Southern Illinoisan in Carbondale reports (http://bit.ly/17hKkPU ) districts in southern Illinois that have at least 40 percent of students who qualify for either free or reduced-meal programs also meet the requirement for the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

Administrators say the program provides cost-saving benefits to the schools and a bump in the number of students eating lunch.

One district superintendent says their lunch program is breaking even now because of the federal assistance.

Five of 13 school districts in the counties of Jackson, Perry, Franklin and Williamson have participated in the program. Another district in Saline County is interested in taking part.

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Information from: Southern Illinoisan, http://www.southernillinoisan.com