Much of the opposition to a federal child nutrition bill has centered on proposed cuts to the number of schools eligible to offer free lunches. But the is also opposing another facet of the bill it says could affect parents鈥� participation in the program.
The . The bill includes proposed rules for the school lunch and breakfast programs for low-income students in schools.
One provision would restrict the number of times that school officials could reach out to families to encourage them to sign up for the school meals program to twice a year, according to the .
鈥淟imiting the amount of communication a school may have with families on any issue is detrimental to the school environment and student learning,鈥� states .
鈥淧arents and families have a right to know what school-based opportunities are provided to their child throughout the year, which includes opportunities to improve the health and nutrition of their child,鈥� the letter states.
The committee, however, shot down an attempt to remove that part of the bill, said Heidi May Wilson, a spokeswoman for National PTA, in an email to Education Week. Rep. Susan Davis, a Democrat from San Diego, Calif., offered an amendment to delete the provision, but it was defeated, Wilson said.
鈥淗ealthy students make better learners, and school meals are an opportunity for children to receive more than half of their daily nutrient needs,鈥� said Laura Bay, the National PTA president, in a statement to Education Week. 鈥淓nsuring children have access to nutritious foods in schools and that families are meaningfully involved is critical to their success.鈥�
PTA also is opposing other parts of the bill, including changes to nutritional standards that members say will make the food less healthy and the reduction in the number of schools that could offer full programs.
Earlier this year, the .