Massachusetts is the latest state to expand free school lunch since a COVID-era program ended. Here's how eight states pay for free lunch for public school students. And Vermont's free meals program, which was allowed through in June 2023 by Gov. And while only a few US states now offer free lunch, some say the momentum for future programs across the nation is growing. "The availability of universal free meals during the pandemic absolutely changed that momentum."

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Persons: Maura Healey, Erin McAleer, Joe Biden's, Phil Scott, Susan Caswell, WPBN, There's, Erika Edwards, EducationWeek Organizations: Service, Gov, CBS News, Massachusetts, Associated Press, Portland Press Herald, AP, MPR, Comstock Elementary School, Jefferson County Locations: Massachusetts, Wall, Silicon, California , Colorado , Maine , Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Vermont, Colorado, California, . Maine, Mexico, Michigan, Southwest Michigan, Jefferson