State leaders unveil bill to help schools serve free meals to students

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) — Sen. Chambers Armstrong and State Rep. Chad Aull unveiled a new bill at Peaks Mill Elementary School Friday morning to address childhood hunger in Kentucky.

The bill proposes that all public schools having at least 60 percent of their student body meeting community eligibility provision income eligibility requirements would be able to participate by the years 2025 or 2026.

Aull says all children should not have to worry about food in order to be successful in school.

“Bottom line is that more students are eating nutritious, locally-sourced, farm-fresh school meals; they are more productive and ready to learn,” Aull said.

According to the Kentucky Department of Education, CEP-affiliated schools will feed more than 550,000 students this year; this bill could add 20,000 students to benefit from that CEP.