USDA looks to streamline administration of school lunch program

News release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service is collaborating with six states on new demonstration projects to connect eligible low-income children with free school meals automatically based on information received from Medicaid. The new process will create administrative efficiencies, reduce improper payments and streamline efforts to provide kids across the nation with access to nutrition. Alaska, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, New York and Pennsylvania will begin their projects on July 1 for school year 2012-2013. Kentucky and Pennsylvania plan to conduct statewide projects; the others will do so in select locations.