The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has received waiver approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to allow schools to provide free meals to all children while the state works to limit the spread of the virus.

Prior to receiving the waiver, schools that did not meet area-based free or reduced-price meal eligibility requirements were unable to offer free meals community-wide. This waiver eases those requirements and helps ensure all children have access to food.

“Schools and community organizations can now use recent and local economic data, including unemployment claims and business closures, to request approval from PDE to qualify as an open meal site,” said Vonda Ramp, PDE state director for Child Nutrition Programs. “Once approved, they can provide meals to all children in their community, age 18 and under, for free.”

There are already approximately 1,600 food distribution sites across the state, which is expected to increase due to the waiver.

Since the schools were closed earlier this month, the department has been providing guidance and information to school communities on its website.

The department has added a map to help Pennsylvania families locate food distribution sites in their communities.

The waiver builds on the USDA approval announced Saturday for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to provide critical food supplies through the state’s network of food banks, food pantries, and pop-up distribution sites.

The approval allows the Department of Agriculture and its partners to more efficiently distribute a variety of foods – including meats, vegetables, fruit, canned goods, cereal, rice, pasta, eggs, and more – to those most affected by the closure of non-life sustaining businesses in Pennsylvania.