Before the wave of closures, schools served free lunches to more than 20 million students who qualified for free meals. Feeding children has become part of the central mission of public schools, even when class is out of session, with many opening cafeterias during the summertime and extended weather closures. Even as many school districts closed to slow the spread of the outbreak, many school leaders hesitated, knowing some children rely on schools for meals. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) resisted closing the city’s public schools, which educate more than 1 million students, because he worried about where students would eat and who would care for them. ADWhen he heard about the schools shutting down, “I was excited because I get to stay home,” he said.

Source: Washington Post March 16, 2020 23:48 UTC