USDA Ends Online Fees for Low-Income School Meal Payments

The USDA has announced a new rule prohibiting schools from charging transaction fees on electronic deposits for low-income families' school lunch accounts, effective in the 2027-28 academic year. This policy aims to alleviate financial burdens on families eligible for free and reduced-price meals, whose incomes are 185% or less of the federal poverty level. The move has been praised by anti-hunger advocates and is seen as a step towards ensuring equitable access to school meals, with further efforts to eliminate such fees for all families.