That’s because the district — one of the largest in South Jersey — has implemented a ban on cellphones, smart watches, ear buds and wireless headphones during class instruction.

Officials with the district said that the move is intended to help students focus in the classroom.

In a statement on the move, district officials said that the “use of wireless communication devices in schools, particularly cell phones, has negative effects on academic performance, focus, and mental health.”

“To support school environments in which students can fully engage with their classmates and their teachers, and to focus attention upon classroom instruction, the Cherry Hill Board of Education has determined that the use of cell phones and other wireless communication devices by students during school hours should be limited,” officials said in a statement.

While the use of phones is banned during instructional periods, students will still be permitted to use them “during lunch, recess, between classes, while on school buses, or during co-curricular activities (unless the school’s Principal elects to prohibit such use during lunch and provided that any co-curricular use is approved by the co-curricular supervisor and does not create a safety hazard during the co-curricular activity).”

Students will be required to either keep phones silenced in a secure place — like a locker or backpack — during times when cellphone use is prohibited, officials said.

“I think it’s great. I think they need such a hard pause on the phones in general,” Dana DelGrosso, mother of middle school students, told NBC10’s Karen Hua. “I don’t even see how kids can learn when the phone is present because it’s such a distraction.”

“I hate it, it’s dumb,” London Atiya, a seventh grade student in Cherry Hill, argued. “They’ve been saying this for years but it’s never been done.”

However, there will be exceptions to this rule — for example, there will be concessions for students who need their phones for health or accessibility reasons.

Léelo en español aquí

The following schools in the Philadelphia School District will dismiss three hours earlier than normal on Tuesday, Aug. 27, and Wednesday, Aug. 28:

1. AMY Northwest
2. Anderson, Marian
3. Bache-Martin
4. Blaine, James
5. Bridesburg Annex
6. Building 21 
7. Castor Gardens 
8. Catharine, Joseph
9. Comegys, B. 
10. Comly Watson 
11. Crossan Kennedy 
12. Disston, Hamilton
13. Dunbar, Paul 
14. Ellwood
15. Emlen, Eleanor
16. Fell, D Newlin
17. Fitzpatrick, A.
18. Fox Chase
19. Franklin, Ben HS
20. Girard, Stephen 
21. Harding, Warren 
22. Henry, Charles 
23. Hill-Freedman 
24. Hopkinson, Francis 
25. Houston, Henry 
26. Howe, Julia 
27. Jenks, Abram 
28. Jenks, John S 
29. Kirkbride, E. 
30. Lamberton
31. Lingelbach, Anna 
32. Loesche
33. Ludlow, James 
34. McCloskey, John 
35. McClure, A.
36. McMichael, M.
37. Meredith, William 
38. Mitchell, Weir 
39. Moore, J. Hampton 
40. MYA 
41. Nebinger, George
42. Olney Elementary 
43. Overbrook Education Center Annex 
44. Overbrook ES 
45. Parkway West 
46. Patterson, John
47. Rhawnhurst
48. Roosevelt, T. 
49. Rowen, William 
50. Roxborough HS 
51. Sayre, William 
52. Sharswood, George
53. Sheppard, Issac 
54. SLA (BFHS) 
55. South Phila. HS
56. Spring Garden 
57. Spruance, Gilbert
58. Sullivan, James 
59. Tilden, William 
60. The U School 
61. Wagner, Gen. Louis 
62. Waring, Laura 
63. Washington, Martha

All other schools in the Philadelphia School District will operate on a normal schedule this week, officials said.

“The School District of Philadelphia monitors temperatures and makes decisions in alignment with the inclement weather and emergency protocol,” a school district spokesperson wrote. “In extreme heat and during the summer months, the District encourages families to please remember to keep their children hydrated and dressed in light-colored and lightweight clothing, and be sure they wear sunscreen. They can also review this Keeping Kids Safe When Temperatures Soar resource for other helpful tips.”

Temperatures are expected to reach the 90s in the Philadelphia area on Tuesday and Wednesday with high humidity.

And, they were joined by the district’s superintendent Tim Watlington.

“Every school year is a fresh start, a new beginning,” Watlington told reporters at the district’s bus depot on Monday morning. “And, I just want to encourage all of our young people in Philadelphia to take advantage of that. It doesn’t matter what happened last year, if you didn’t do your best, you’ve got another shot at it. Another bite at the apple.”

Watlington also joined Cherelle Parker at Franklin S. Edmonds School in the city’s East Mount Airy neighborhood on Monday morning to ring a ceremonial bell to kick off the new school year.

“I’m excited. I hope my teachers are the best teachers,” said one student at the morning celebration.

“I’m glad he’s going back to school,” Mariah McCall, mother of a student at Franklin S. Edmonds school told NBC’s Brian Sheehan on Monday. “Because, I get to have my house to myself now.”

Watlington will have a lot of new faces to welcome as the district has hired about 800 new teachers and councilors to help support students this year.

Watlington will have other reasons to celebrate, as well.

For example, Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts has donated $200,000 to fund air conditioning at several schools in the School District of Philadelphia.

Officials said this donation will help add more than 300 air conditioning units in 10 schools across the district, aiming to provide comfort to classrooms and avoid disruptions to school days during the warmer months.

Watlington will also be out in South Philadelphia at Francis Scott Key School this afternoon in order to wave students goodbye at the end of the day of classes.

This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.

The high school junior was killed in April while walking home. His family is calling for action ahead of the school year.

It’s been four months since the Hockers lost their son, but it doesn’t feel that long to them.

For the first time, they returned to McDade Boulevard and Fairview Road in Woodlyn, Delaware County.

The Hockers said the 17-year-old Ridley High School junior was hit by a car while walking home from the gym.

“It’s something that’s likely to happen again if something isn’t done to make the intersection safer,” his mother Elizabeth Hocker said.

With school starting next week out here, they have a renewed urgency to call for changes at this corner and others nearby.

The family started a petition with more than 1,500 signatures.

His parents are calling on lawmakers to help build footbridges for students, create more crosswalks, enforce existing traffic laws, and get rid of the turn right on red law.

“You’ll see large groups of kids walking up and down these streets and people are racing down this road just to get to the highway,” his father Doug Hocker explained.

As they tell their story, they told NBC10 that more families are sharing their close calls and nightmares from this area.

We’re told at least one state lawmaker is asking for a traffic safety study to help with changes.

The Hockers are hoping that happens before another tragedy.

“We need to protect people who don’t have the privilege of driving a car, young people, elderly people, young people don’t always have a voice to advocate for themselves,” Hocker said.

Their son Damian was their life. Now, they’re fighting for change so another student’s family doesn’t go through the same heartbreak.

The back-to-school shopping season is in full swing, with the hefty bills to prove it.

Nearly one-third — 31% — of back-to-school shoppers said that buying supplies for the new year will put them into debt, according to a new report by Bankrate, which polled more than 2,300 adults in July.

A separate report by Intuit Credit Karma also found that 31% of parents said they can’t afford back-to-school shopping this year and 34% expect to take on debt to cover the cost of supplies. That survey polled more than 1,000 adults last month.

Higher prices are partly to blame: Families are now paying more for some key back-to-school essentials such as backpacks ahead of the new school year. CNBC used the producer price index — a closely followed measure of inflation — to track how the costs of making certain items typically purchased for students has changed between 2019 and 2024.

On the upside, most families say back-to-school shopping is less of a strain in 2024 compared to a year earlier, Bankrate found.

Overall, inflation continues to retreat. The consumer price index, a key inflation gauge, rose 2.9% in July from a year ago, the U.S. Department of Labor reported. That figure is down from 3% in June and the lowest reading since March 2021.

"Shoppers aren't clutching their wallets nearly as tightly this year," said Ted Rossman, Bankrate's senior industry analyst. "It's important not to let your guard down, though."

Back-to-school spending may hit nearly $40 billion

Families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $874.68 on school supplies, just $15 less than last year's record of $890.07, according to the National Retail Federation.

Altogether, this year's back-to-school spending, including for college students, is expected to reach $38.8 billion, the NRF also found. That's the second-highest tally ever, after last year's $41.5 billion marked the most expensive back-to-school season to date.

More than 75% of parents said they believe schools ask them to buy too much during back-to-school season, according to a report by WalletHub.

Parents 'influenced' to splurge

Despite having to navigate tight budget constraints, 85% of parents said they could be influenced to splurge on a "must-have" item or brand, another survey by Deloitte found. In May, the firm polled more than 1,100 parents who will have at least one child in grades K through 12 this fall.

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According to Casey Lewis, a social media trend expert, low-rise jeans; Adidas Campus sneakers, which cost as much as $110 at adidas.com; and Jester backpacks from North Face, retailing for $75 or more, are topping students' wish lists this year.

"There's a lot of pressure to have the right look," Lewis said. And as trends cycle through faster and faster, "young people have even more pressure to keep up," she added. "It feels like their popularity and perceived coolness rides on the products they have."

How to save on back-to-school shopping

Consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch advises families to shop for gently used clothing, sporting goods, school supplies and certified-refurbished electronics on resale sites, use a price-tracking browser extension or app and apply coupon codes. There are a growing number of online retailers that offer children's product overstock, open-box and returned goods, often at a significant discount.

If you are buying new, try stacking discounts, Woroch recommended, such as combining credit card rewards with store coupons and cash-back offers while leveraging free loyalty programs. For example, you can get 50% off with 2% cash back at Old Navy and 20% off with 1.5% cash back at Office Depot, among other deals.

Otherwise, shop your own stock, Woroch said. "Rip out pages in a partially used notebook, collect scattered markers and crayons to make a full set and clean up last year's backpack and lunch tote."

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School absences surged during the pandemic and have yet to recover. Nearly 1 in 4 students remains chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of the academic year, according to the latest data analyzed by The Associated Press.

One reason for continued high absences: After years of COVID-19 quarantines, parents are more cautious about sending children to school when they might be contagious with an illness.

When a child misses school, even for an excused absence like a sick day, it’s harder for them to stay on track academically. So schools and health experts are trying to change the culture around sick days.

Here’s what they want parents to know.

COVID guidelines have changed

During the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged people who tested positive for COVID-19 to isolate at home for a set number of days and to quarantine after exposure to the coronavirus. In some settings, people with any mild illness were urged to remain home until symptoms were clear.

Those standards, and the caution behind them, remained for years after schools reopened to in-person instruction. That meant children often missed large portions of school after contracting or being exposed to COVID-19 or other illnesses.

This spring, COVID-19 guidance officially changed. Now, the CDC suggests people treat COVID-19 like other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu and RSV.

Fever-free for 24 hours

If a child has a fever, they should stay home, no matter the illness.

A child can return to school when their fever has been gone for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication. Other symptoms should be improving.

Parenting Aug 16

Idaho school district now needs parental consent for Band-Aids and other basic first aid

Back to school Aug 16

It's Back-to-School Season! See where teachers and families can get freebies and big discounts

What about other symptoms?

If a child doesn’t have a fever, it’s OK to send them to class with some signs of illness, including a runny nose, headache or cough, according to schools and the American Academy of Pediatrics. If those symptoms aren’t improving or are severe, such as a hacking cough, call your child’s doctor.

The guidance around vomiting and diarrhea varies across school districts. Generally, students should remain home until symptoms stop, according to American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. Older children may be able to manage mild diarrhea at school.

“Unless your student has a fever or threw up in the last 24 hours, you are coming to school. That’s what we want,” said Abigail Arii, director of student support services in Oakland, California.

Guidance from the Los Angeles Unified School District says students can attend school with mild symptoms such as a runny nose or cold, but should stay home if they have vomiting, diarrhea, severe pain or a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius) or higher.

School districts across the U.S. have similar guidance, including in Texas, Illinois and New York.

When to wear a mask

The CDC says people should take additional precautions for five days after returning to school or other normal activities.

Masks and social distancing are no longer mandated but are encouraged to prevent disease spread. Experts also recommend plenty of handwashing and taking steps for cleaner air, such as opening a window or running an air purifier.

School districts say parents should keep up-to-date on all health examinations and immunizations for students so they don’t miss additional days of school.

___

AP Education Writer Jocelyn Gecker in San Francisco contributed.

It can be a stressful time for teachers who are stocking their classrooms and for parents, covering the cost of school supplies, uniforms and more.

To help ease this burden, many major retailers, restaurants and brands are offering special discounts and freebies.

From class pets to pancake stacks, there are plenty of deals for teachers and families to take advantage of.

For Teachers

AncestryClassroom

Ancestry.com has developed AncestryClassroom to provide educators access to all the original and primary documents of Ancestry’s World Explorer Collection, Fold3 and Newspapers.com.

These historical record collections are offered at no cost to “help students find their personal place in history.”

Bar Louie

Teachers can save 10% on food at Bar Louie between Aug. 12 — Sept. 30. Valid in-store only with a valid teacher ID.

Canva

Canva for Education is free for K-12 teachers and students. They can create and personalize lesson plans, infographics, posters, videos, and more.

Colgate

Kindergarten and First Grade teachers can request a free Bright Smiles, Bright Futures classroom kit, full of classroom materials that support curriculum standards, plus Colgate toothpaste and toothbrush samples for up to 72 students.

Crayola Experience

Certified PreK-12th-grade teachers can receive a free Annual Pass for unlimited admission to all Crayola Experience locations. Plus, receive 20% off on-site purchases including food, merchandise and more.

To receive the offer, present a current teaching certificate and photo ID at the admissions counter.

Headspace

If you’re looking for a new way to bring calm to your classroom, Headspace offers free access to K-12 teachers and supporting staff.

Sign up for a free subscription.

Jetbrains

Students and faculty from accredited educational institutions (high schools, colleges, and universities) are welcome to apply for a free educational license to learn or teach coding from Jetbrains.

Free access to all JetBrains IDEs is available for personal use at school or home.

Lysol x The GIANT Room

First and second-grade teachers are invited to sign up to receive free Lysol Mini Labs Science Kits.

The kits will be donated to a limited number of Title 1 elementary schools around the United States at the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year.

Each selected classroom will receive a total of three Lysol Minilabs Science Kits throughout the school year. The kits include hands-on materials for the whole classroom, engaging lesson plans aligned with NGSS Standards, and resources for teachers for easy and effective implementation. 

Pets in the Classroom

Teachers who are willing to do a little extra work in the form of a grant application can get a free pet for their classroom through this program.

Applications for the 2024-25 school year are now open. Apply here.

Thrive Market

Teachers qualify for a free one-year membership through Thrive Gives. With a Thrive Market membership, customers save up to 30% on every order, versus buying from a store.

Quickbooks

Current educators, students and staff at accredited U.S educational institutions are eligible for free trials of Intuit software. Students can take an Intuit Entrepreneurial Finance course, become certified as a bookkeeping professional and more.

Register to confirm eligibility.

Vooks

Teachers can sign up for a free Vooks account.

Vooks is a digital library of children’s storybooks brought to life with subtle animation, read-aloud narration, engaging music and sound, and read-along highlighted text that’s a great addition to any classroom.

Year-Round Discounts

Teach for America has organized a list of dozens of discounts and deals from Apple, Headspace, Party City and more. See the entire list here.

For Families

Burger King

Between Aug. 12 — 25, Burger King rewards members can score a free King. Jr. Meal with a purchase of $10 or more.

Elevation Burger

Customers can get a free kid’s meal when they buy an adult burger, sandwich or chicken tenders between Aug. 12 — 18. Make sure to mention the promotion in-store or use code Back2School24 for online checkout.

IHOP

IHOP’s popular all-you-can-eat pancake offer is happening now through Sept. 15. Bring your kids and start a sweet first day of school tradition with one of these offers:

• Order select breakfast combos and get an all-you-can-eat short stack of buttermilk pancakes for free (extra pancake stacks are served two at a time).
• Order a full stack of five buttermilk pancakes for $5 and get upgraded to all-you-can-eat status for no additional charge. The additional pancake stacks (after your first five) are served two at a time.

Instacart

Instacart is running a week of back-to-school deals between Aug. 13 and 19 with up to 25% off school supplies, groceries and convenience items.

Johnny Rockets

Treat your kid to a free kid’s meal at Johnny Rocket’s when you purchase an adult entree now through Aug. 18. To redeem the offer, mention the promotion to your server in-store.

Panda Express

From August 22 through September 8, guests who purchase $30 or more in gift cards will receive an $8 bonus card.

The $8 bonus card can be used from August 22 to October 8, 2024. The offer is only available online but can be redeemed both online and in-stores. 

P.F. Chang’s

P.F. Chang’s wants to help make your dinner plans a breeze with their new back-to-school bundle. The three-course family-style meal comes with a choice of soup or salad, an appetizer and a choice of entrees for each guest. The bundle starts at under $20 per person and is available through Sept. 30.

Smoothie King

Now through Aug. 29, kids can get a free 12-ounce smoothie with the purchase of any 20-ounce or larger smoothie at participating Smoothie King locations.

The offer is valid Monday — Thursday between 2 — 6 p.m. and is valid in-store and, for rewards members, in the Smoothie King app.

Whataburger

Kids eat free every Tuesday in August with the purchase of any meal (including a kid’s meal) at Whataburger.

The free meal applies to everything on the kid’s menu, including grilled cheese, Justaburger, a two-piece Whatachick’n Strips or four-piece Whatchick’n Bites. The offer is valid for dine-in and drive-thru orders only.

Contests

Hefty Zoo Pals

Enter for a chance to win a Hefty Zoo Pals Meal Kit complete with the nostalgic Zoo Pals plates, limited-edition Zoo Pals-themed sandwich cutters, cups and coasters. No purchase is necessary. Ends Aug. 28, 2024.

Quaker Oats

Enter for a chance to win an adorable school-themed lunch thermos. No purchase is necessary. Ends Sept. 13, 2024.

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For many families, back-to-school shopping includes notebooks, markers and folders, not just for their kids but for their peers as well. While certain states require schools to provide basic supplies, classroom budgets are tight. To ensure that all children have enough supplies — we’ve seen how kids treat pencils, right? — teachers often have two options: pay for a portion of supplies themselves, usually without reimbursement, or create “wish lists” requesting families to contribute bulk items once or twice a year.

If you’re asked to buy two dozen glue sticks, it’s either because teachers expect your child to use every single one this year or they benefit students whose families can’t afford to buy supplies. Extras are also handy when items go missing or break. Teachers may ask parents to buy specific brands or basic, nondescript supplies without branding or flourishes. Sometimes teachers request bigger items, too, like whiteboard markers, disinfecting wipes and tissues.

Each teacher has their own system but most agree that no one wants to snatch Billy’s favorite Spider-Man eraser and give it to his mortal enemy. While specific guidelines vary by classroom, the purpose of general supplies is that they all look the same and are there for the taking as needed.

Some parents contribute, others cannot. And some have complicated feelings about the responsibility.

One mom on TikTok wrote, “I spent upwards of $400 on school stuff for seven kids a year. I am not buying for a whole class” while another simply said, “Some parents don’t like to share apparently.”

Frances Chie, a mom in Ohio, wants to buy personalized supplies for her 3-year-old daughter who is entering preschool this year, but not necessarily her peers. While their school only asks families to buy supplies for their own children, Chie suspects that communal supplies are in her future.

“If my baby wants Disney Princess pencils, a pencil case (and) erasers and I go and buy them, why wouldn’t she be using them?” Chie said in a TikTok video.

Parents and teachers responded:

• “I will label each crayon individually with my child’s name, a whole 128 pack. I don’t care.”
• “What I buy for my children is THEIRS. And I will be telling their teachers the same.”
• “As a teacher, I understand this but also, we have to pay for so much of it.”
• “First grade teacher here. The only supplies I use as community supplies are pencils and glue sticks, only because they need help managing supplies at this age. They will need 24 pencils, just not on Day One.”
• “I don’t think most parents understand how much little kids lose or break pencils and crayons.”
• “Teachers have to handle 18 to 25 children. Please just do whatever your teacher wants you to do.”

Chie tells TODAY.com that she and her daughter are excited to find supplies branded with Disney, Bluey and unicorns.

“If parents are going school shopping with their little ones, and picking out things that (reflect) their special interests … those kids should use those supplies,” she says.

Chie says she was surprised to learn that many teachers pay for classroom decorations and supplies with their own money and she would be happy to donate more communal items, like paper towels, hand sanitizer and tissues to the classroom, but draws the line at more personal items.

Sarah Spikeston of Texas pays a flat fee to her daughter’s private school to purchase communal supplies while her son’s private Montessori preschool allows for both personal and shared items.

“As someone who was chronically poor growing up and homeless for parts of (my youth), meeting the needs of all kids, regardless of their circumstances, is really important to me,” Spikeston, a community college professor in Texas, tells TODAY.com via email.

She adds: “I know what it’s like to be the kid that’s left without and that classrooms run more efficiently when they are fully stocked and there’s some level of uniformity in supplies.”

Spikeston says some parents dislike buying generic brands but kids don’t care about sharing supplies, especially when they’re expressing their individuality elsewhere.

“We have to remember that any of us could begin to struggle in the blink of an eye,” says Spikeston. “Those of us that are blessed to be able to afford school supplies have a duty to the community because the community in turn funds our public schools.”

Todd Bloch, a middle school science teacher in Michigan, understands that supplies are expensive and that families may have brand favorites or want to label their children’s supplies.

Supply lists are a “balancing act” for teachers, too.

“It’s difficult to know exactly what we need going into the school year, especially when store sales usually happen in June,” Bloch tells TODAY.com.

When parents can afford to buy supplies, says Bloch, it saves teachers from diving into their classroom budgets so they can spend that money elsewhere — like baking soda and vinegar to demonstrate chemical reactions with a “cool” fizz, he says.

With experience, Bloch has fine-tuned his supply list: kids trace perfect circles using cheap paper coffee cups instead of compasses, technological information can be stored in the cloud versus flash drives, and standard pencils trump refillable mechanical tools. When Bloch’s students built solar ovens with aluminum foil and cardboard, they brought in their family’s used pizza boxes. It helps that Bloch’s school reimburses him a portion of what he spends. If Bloch wants to do something special, like reward his students with Jolly Ranchers, he pays out of his own pocket.

Bloch communicates his recommendations for supplies to parents and reassures students they will be fully prepared, one way or another.

“Teachers just want to create an equitable experience for students,” says Bloch. “If parents can’t help make that happen, most teachers totally understand.”

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

• I wasn’t anxious about back-to-school because of my kids. It was the other moms
• Should parents buy school supplies for the entire class? The debate rages on
• When does school start? Why students go back at all different times

This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.

Because some parents assume — correctly or incorrectly — that their child is not ready for kindergarten, they may wait an additional year before enrolling, a process known as redshirting.

The term “redshirting” was originally used for college students who sat out of varsity competition for a year in order to extend their eligibility to play sports. Today, it also refers to holding your child back an extra year before starting kindergarten.

Parents may have extremely valid reasons to redshirt a child. Perhaps they aren’t socially or emotionally ready for school, or maybe they’ve been diagnosed with a developmental delay.

Other times, parents may consider holding their child back so they’re not the shortest or youngest of their peers. They may also want their child to enter school at a slightly older age to be more competitive at academics or athletics.

“There’s always going to be somebody oldest and there’s always going to be somebody youngest,” says Tovah Klein, author of “Raising Resilience” and director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development. She says there is “huge variability” in kids’ readiness for school, and there’s much more variability the younger they are.

Not every parent has the luxury of even considering redshirting their child, however. Klein points out that lower-income families may need children to be in school as soon as possible to eliminate high daycare costs.

“Redshirting is very much an upper class, higher-income, higher-educated family thing,” she says.

Why are school age cut-off dates different in each state?

Each state has an age cut-off date for children entering public school, but that date varies. Private schools, however, are not subject to the same rules and can choose an entirely different age cut-off date.

“When I started in education, that cut-off was all over the place,” says Molly McMahon, director of leadership programs for the Roche Center at Boston College. “Twenty years later, for the most part, states have shifted the cut-off to Aug. 31 or Sept. 1.”

Connecticut, for example, previously had a cut-off date of Jan. 1 before finally transitioning to a Sept. 1 cut-off date for the 2024-2025 school year.

Why don’t schools have a universal age cut-off date?

You may be surprised to learn that kindergarten is not always a prerequisite for first grade. In fact, according to the Education Commission of the States, only 17 states plus the District of Columbia require children to attend kindergarten.

Christopher P. Brown, author of “Ready for Kindergarten?” and professor of early childhood education at the University of Texas at Austin, thinks that there are two reasons we don’t have a universal age cut-off date for kindergarten.

“First, state rights — states like doing their own things,” he tells TODAY.com. “Second, there is a long history of conservative politicians who fear the ‘nanny’ state and the destruction of the nuclear family.”

Plus, educating kids is just plain expensive. Some states are more willing to bear the cost to educate kids at an earlier age, he adds.

How do I decide if I should redshirt my child?

Gone is the kindergarten you may remember from your childhood with hours of singing songs, painting pictures and playing with blocks.

“The curriculum of the schools has been pushed back,” says Klein. “What used to be first grade has been pushed into kindergarten.” That means there is slightly less freedom of movement and activity and slightly more sitting at a table and working together.

The good news, she says, is that “in educated families, where children are being read to, a vast majority of children have the skills they need” to start kindergarten, like recognizing letters and numbers. The harder thing, Klein continues, is recognizing social-emotional readiness skills, such as relating to other children.

If you have a child who may be the youngest in the class, or if you are worried about your child following directions or keeping up with the class, the best thing you can do is to reach out to the school district for guidance.

“It’s really important that it’s a full-team decision with parents, teachers, administrators and other educators in each child’s life,” says McMahon.

Keep in mind that if you suspect that your child has learning differences, it might be advantageous to start kindergarten on time in order to receive free evaluations and services provided to students who may need individualized education programs.

Is it better for your child to be the oldest or youngest in their class?

“We always think older is better, which may have a nugget of truth in kindergarten because of this large variability in how children perform at a younger age,” Klein says. “But the question is, does that hold up over time?”

It may seem like older children have an advantage, but Klein points out that younger children often get “pulled up” by older children. Older children become role models who are setting the skill bar,” she says. “It’s almost like older children get to be the teachers in a way.”

Working as both a teacher and an administrator at public, private and Catholic elementary schools in both urban and suburban settings, McMahon has seen many families wrestle with the redshirting decision. In the end, she says that any variance in behavior or ability “generally evens out by middle school or high school.”

All of the experts encourage parents to project what their child’s experience might be throughout their teenage years, not just in kindergarten. For example, would getting a driver’s license a year before their peers present additional concerns for your family?

Does gender play a role in redshirting?

The redshirting discussion more often circles around boys than girls.

Klein says there isn’t data that definitively states that one gender may be much more academically ready for school than the other, but McMahon notes that boys may have more challenges in school in terms of switching from play mode to school mode, especially at the younger end of the spectrum.

There’s one more reason that parents may consider holding boys back more often than girls, and it’s closely related to the original definition of redshirting.

“Boys are more likely to be redshirted — not only for social reasons, but also for sports,” says Brown. “I live in Texas, and football is king. Many families want their child to be as old and big as possible by the time they are ready to play high school football.”

What questions should you ask when considering redshirting your child?

Our experts shared a number of questions you should ask yourself when considering holding your child back a year:

• What is the school policy on redshirting? Is it even an option?
• What are the curriculum requirements for the year?
• Is there a kindergarten screening or readiness check?
• What if I redshirt my child and they end up bored by third grade?
• Is there a kindergarten visitation day for me or my child?
• What happens if my child is more/less mature than their classmates?
• How does my child interact with peers when I’m not around?
• Can I have a discussion with school administrators about this?

Overall, experts caution parents to do their research and base the decision on their child — not on general data, social media or anecdotal situations.

Make the best decision you can

Ultimately, you are your child’s best advocate. Use your own observations, do your homework and reach out to your child’s school for guidance if you have concerns.

Deciding when to start kindergarten can often feel like a heavily loaded topic, but in general, most children will do just fine adhering to the age cut-off designated by the school.

“You don’t want your child being a big outlier unless there’s a documented developmental issue,” reassures Klein. “Because the typical unevenness of development is going to smooth out for a vast majority of children.”

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• Should parents buy school supplies for the entire class? The debate rages on
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This article examines some of the most compelling alternatives, highlighting how they cater to different learning styles and needs and why they are gaining nationwide traction.

Forest schools

Forest schools provide outdoor, nature-based education, encouraging children to learn through exploration and hands-on experiences in natural settings. They are becoming increasingly popular, with numerous programs established across the U.S. to meet the growing demand for outdoor, experiential education.

Forest schools suit children who thrive in outdoor environments and need physical activity integrated into their learning. They originated in Scandinavia and are based on the idea that nature is the best classroom.

Worldschooling

Worldschooling is an educational philosophy where families use travel and global experiences as the primary learning method.

This approach benefits children and families who seek a culturally rich, experiential education outside of traditional classroom settings. Worldschooling families often document their adventures and educational experiences through blogs and social media.

Homeschooling

Homeschooling is the most well-known alternative. It is an educational approach where parents teach their children at home rather than sending them to a traditional public or private school.

This option benefits families seeking a flexible curriculum and individualized pace for their children. According to the National Home Education Research Institute, homeschooled students often have higher standardized test scores and graduation rates compared to their traditionally schooled peers.

Online schools

Online schools deliver education through internet-based platforms, allowing students to learn remotely with the support of virtual teachers and resources.

This option is ideal for children who thrive in a technology-driven environment or need a flexible schedule due to health, travel or other commitments. Some online schools even offer virtual reality experiences to enhance learning in subjects like history and science.

Microschools

Microschools are small, private schools with a limited number of students. They often emphasize personalized learning and mixed-age classrooms.

These schools suit families looking for a community-oriented, individualized education without the constraints of larger institutions. Microschools often operate in unconventional spaces like homes, community centers or coworking spaces.

Cooperatives

Educational cooperatives are parent-led groups where families collaboratively share teaching responsibilities and resources to educate their children.

This model works well for families who value a strong sense of community and parental involvement in education. Depending on the parents’ skills and interests, co-op classes can range from academic subjects to unique electives like medieval sword fighting or urban farming.

Montessori schools

Montessori schools use a child-centered educational approach based on the scientific observations of children by Dr. Maria Montessori. They emphasize independence, hands-on learning and collaborative play.

This option benefits children who thrive in self-directed, exploratory learning environments. It’s a whole-of-life philosophy that might also include open shelving in the children’s rooms, Montessori floor beds and music lessons.

Sudbury schools

Sudbury schools operate on a democratic model where students have complete autonomy over their education and participate in school governance.

This environment suits children who prefer self-directed learning and value freedom and responsibility. At Sudbury schools, students of all ages learn together and make decisions about their education and school rules through democratic meetings.

Charter schools

Charter schools are publicly funded but operate independently of the traditional public school system. They often have a specific educational focus or innovative teaching methods.

This model benefits families seeking a specialized curriculum or alternative educational approaches within the public system. Charter schools are accountable to their charter, a performance contract detailing the school’s mission, program and success metrics.

Unschooling

Unschooling is a learner-centered approach to education. It involves no formal curriculum or traditional schooling structure, and education is driven by the child’s interests.

This method benefits curious, self-motivated children who learn best through real-life experiences. Unschooling families often engage in a wide range of activities, from cooking to entrepreneurship, using the world as their classroom.

Education tailored to children

The education landscape in the United States is evolving, with many families seeking alternatives to traditional schooling to meet their children’s unique needs and learning styles.

From the flexibility and personalized pace of homeschooling to the tech-driven and adaptable environment of online schools, and from the community-focused approach of cooperatives to the outdoor experiential learning in forest schools, these diverse educational models offer tailored solutions that can enhance student engagement and success.

As more parents and educators explore these options, the popularity and availability of alternative schooling continue to grow, providing families with a rich array of choices to support their children’s educational journeys.

Dan Morris is one of the founders of OurKiwiHomeschool.com, where he and his wife, Naomi, share their homeschooling journey. Both are passionate about alternative education options for children.

Just when it seemed more Americans were inspired by the ideas of “underconsumption core” and “conscious consumerism,” which aim to put a lid on social media-influenced overspending, the back-to-school shopping season kicked off early — followed by TikTok hashtag #backtoschoolhauls.

As of the beginning of July, more than half, or 55%, of students and families had already started buying supplies for the start of the academic year, according to the National Retail Federation.

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“The back-to-school shopping season has increasingly started earlier each year,” largely driven by retail strategies, said Cassandra Happe, an analyst at WalletHub.

Sales events like Target Circle Week and Amazon’s Prime Day started even earlier in 2024, “aiming to capture early-bird shoppers and outpace competitors,” Happe said.

Back-to-school spending could reach nearly $40 billion

Families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend an average of $874.68 on school supplies, just $15 less than last year’s record of $890.07, according to the NRF.

Altogether, this year’s back-to-school spending, including for college students, is expected to reach $38.8 billion, the NRF also found. That’s the second-highest tally ever, after last year’s $41.5 billion marked the most expensive back-to-school season to date.

According to another report, by Intuit Credit Karma, nearly one-third, or 31%, of parents said they can’t afford back-to-school shopping this year and 34% expect to take on debt to cover the cost of supplies.

Higher prices are partly to blame: Families are now paying more for key back-to-school essentials such as backpacks ahead of the new school year. CNBC used the producer price index — a closely followed measure of inflation — to track how the costs of making certain items typically purchased for students has changed between 2019 and 2024.

How much more expensive will back to school shopping be in 2024?

On the upside, starting earlier may offer the best opportunities to find the best deals, a separate survey by Deloitte found, at a time when household finances are particularly squeezed.

"However, this approach can also lead to increased spending due to rising costs and the temptation for impulse buys," Happe said. "Parents might find themselves spending more overall, especially on high-ticket items and electronics."

More than 75% of parents said they believe schools ask them to buy too much during back-to-school season, another report by WalletHub found.

Parents influenced to splurge on 'must-have' items

"Back-to-school hauls have started infiltrating TikTok earlier than I've ever seen it," said Casey Lewis, a social media trend expert and founder of trend newsletter After School.

"As soon as the Fourth of July holiday weekend was over, I began seeing them — and not just shopping hauls, but also outfit ideas and calls for advice about the best shoes and backpacks to buy this year," Lewis said.

Despite having to navigate tight budget constraints, 85% of parents said they could be influenced to splurge on a "must-have" item or brand, Deloitte also found.

According to Lewis, low-rise jeans, $110 Adidas Campus sneakers and Jester backpacks from North Face, which retail for $75 or more, are topping this year's wish lists.

"There's a lot of pressure to have the right look," Lewis said. And as trends cycle through faster and faster, "young people have even more pressure to keep up," she added. "It feels like their popularity and perceived coolness rides on the products they have."

How to keep back-to-school spending in check

Consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch advises families to shop for gently used clothing, sporting goods, school supplies and certified-refurbished electronics on resale sites, use a price-tracking browser extension or app and apply coupon codes. There are a growing number of online retailers that offer children's product overstock, open-box and returned goods, often at a significant discount.

Also take advantage of sales tax holidays when you can, she said. Review the 2024 Sales Tax Holiday list to see if and when your state lifts sales taxes for a few days.

Otherwise, shop your own stock, which is what TikTok's #underconsumptioncore is all about. "Rip out pages in a partially used notebook, collect scattered markers and crayons to make a full set and clean up last year's backpack and lunch tote," Woroch said.

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The first day of classes at K-12 schools can land anywhere from mid-July to early September, depending on the city, state, climate or even whether teachers and students are at risk for burnout.

For example, this year, New York City Public Schools commences on Sept. 5 (three days after Labor Day) while the Chula Vista Elementary School District’s classes in California begin July 24. Meanwhile, students at Jackson Public Schools in Mississippi come back Aug. 5.

When does school start?

Children in Southern and Southwestern states generally start school earlier in the year than those on the East Coast, the Midwest, and the Northwest, according to an analysis from the Pew Research Center of more than 13,000 national districts in 2019, the most recent research available. Pew didn’t look at whether students are returning to school earlier than ever before; however, the report notes, “There’s some evidence that more secondary-school students, at least, are spending part of their summers in the classroom.”

When is summer vacation over, and why?

Summer vacation wasn’t always about lazy days and sleep-away camp — historically, school calendars were built around the farm economy.

“Generally speaking, during the early-to-mid 19th century, schools in rural settings revolved around the agricultural system, allowing kids time off to harvest crops,” Steven L. Nelson, an associate professor of education policy and leadership at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, told TODAY.com in 2023. “Urban schools ran year-round so parents could work in factories and at other jobs.”

“In the age of school reform, we’re moving toward a much longer school year — and sometimes a longer school day — which can help students who are behind,” says Nelson.

Some schools may determine their school calendars in accordance with the weather. “Schools might build extra days into their calendars for snow or hurricane days,” he says.

Other schools opt for shorter vacations to prevent the “summer slide,” when students experience learning loss over the 8-week summer vacation.

Chandler Unified School District in Arizona is one that starts in mid-summer, on July 17, and ends on May 22.

The district operates on a modified year-round schedule, Jessica Edgar, the executive director of curriculum and instruction, told TODAY.com. With a shorter summer break, material from the previous year is significantly fresher in the minds of students and they can hit the ground running in the fall, she says.

The shortened summer also benefits Arizona students who rely on consistent air-conditioned buildings and food services, she says.

What parents think about school start dates

How do moms feel about the varying school calendars?

Abigail Carreño Miller’s two children start school in Massachusetts at different times — her 11-year-old son’s public school begins on August 28 and finishes June 12, while her 14-year-old daughter’s private school starts September 10 and ends June 5.

One disadvantage: the children’s conflicting schedules can affect summer travel.

“If we wanted to go on vacation in early June, our son would have to miss school,” Carreño Miller tells TODAY. “The benefits for our daughter though, are tremendous — she gets exhausted from working hard, so having fewer academic days and longer vacations are good for her.”

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What is the Target Denim Take Back Event?

Starting Aug. 4 through Aug. 10, Target is allowing you to bring in your used denim styles, in exchange for 20% off on any denim purchase with Target Circle. In a press release shared with Shop TODAY, the retailer says this is a way to make back-to-school shopping more affordable, all while practicing sustainability to “keep denim out of landfills.”

And it’s not just for kids, you redeem and save for yourself, too. Target says they will take up to five styles of any denim from any brand, which includes jean pants, skirts, jackets and more. Here’s how it works:

• Drop off your used denim in any condition at your local Target store. There will be marked drop-off boxes near Guest Services, says the brand.
• You’ll receive 20% off through Target Circle on your next Target denim purchase. The retailer says this can be used on any Target-owned brand, as well as national brands sold at Target, including Levi’s.
• You can redeem the 20% discount online and in-store. However, the retailer says you must redeem it between Aug. 4 and Aug. 10. Target does note that this offer can’t be used on accessories, Target Plus and clearance items.

Do you have to be a Target Circle member?

Yes, the denim trade-in offer is only available through Target Circle, but luckily, the retailer says you can sign up for the free program before and at the time of drop-off, there will be a sign to scan, sign up and redeem. For those with a Target Circle Card, the retailer is allowing an additional 5% savings on your denim purchase.

Is every Target store participating?

Yes, Target says every major store is participating. The retailer only notes that their small format stores won’t be — if you’re unsure, you can call ahead.

What are my shopping options?

According to Target, you can redeem this promotion online or in any of the 2000+ stores. In addition, the retailer says you can utilize their different services, such as drive up and order pickup, and same-day delivery.

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There will be seven pairs of twins attending Ridge Park Elementary School, six sets of twins will join Whitemarch Elementary School and four pairs of twins will start at Plymouth Elementary.

This is the highest number of twins, according to the school district.

The district refers to them as “twin-dergarteners” and said the students are very excited to start school especially with already having a built-in buddy.

“We always have each other,” said Chloe and Audrey Ugas, who will be attending Ridge Park.

“I get to hug my brother any time I want,” said Charlotte Dorman, who will also be attending Ridge Park.

The district said the students are looking forward to playing on the playground, learning and making new friends.

The twin’s first day of school will be Monday, Sept. 11.

Students with disabilities in Pennsylvania will now receive free support through the public education system for an additional year beyond what current policy dictates.

Under a settlement announced Thursday, the state’s Department of Education will change its policy to allow students with disabilities to continue in K-12 public education until they turn 22. Previously, students would age out of the program at the end of the school year during which they turned 21.

Students who turned 21 during the 2022-23 school year and were considered to have aged out will also have the option to re-enroll in public school this year, according to the settlement.

The new policy takes effect Sept. 5 and will continue offering students support services to help them transition into adulthood, as well as supports such as speech therapy and occupational therapy. Each year, there are about 17,000 special education students in Pennsylvania between the ages of 18-21 — approximately 300 of whom are 21 — according to the attorneys that filed the case.

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Cheers teachers! Wawa celebrates educators with free coffee this September

Lawyers representing a 19-year-old student and his family filed a federal class action suit in July. It argued that the state’s policy failed to comply with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which states that services should continue until a student receives a diploma, or turns 22.

The student — who has multiple disabilities and receives occupational therapy, speech therapy and transition services — would have aged out of the program in the summer of 2025, following his 21st birthday in February. Under the new policy, he will be able to receive support until February 2026, adding six months of additional time to access the free services.

“This is a significant step forward for young adults with disabilities in Pennsylvania,” his attorneys, who work for the Public Interest Law Center as well as Berney & Sang, said in a statement. “We look forward to working with them to ensure that students with disabilities are able to receive the support they deserve to prepare for the next stage in their lives.”

A spokesperson for the state’s Department of Education said in a statement that it was notifying families with eligible students of the change. The department is “committed to ensuring that every student receives a high-quality education.”

The popular Philadelphia-area convenience store chain announced that it’s offering a free cup of coffee to teachers and school staff through the end of September as part of its “Cheers to Classrooms” program.

“Wawa is excited to bring back its Cheers to Classrooms initiative to put a smile on the faces of teachers and administration that work so hard to do the same for children in our community,” Wawa senior director of store operations Dave Simonetti said in a news release. “Our associates are also looking forward to visiting local schools throughout the month to welcome teachers back into the classroom and show our appreciation for everything they do!”

Additionally, in a partnership with Donor’s Choose, Wawa has designated a $50,000 matching fund to help support schools and teachers.

Sept. 1 through Sept. 30, any school workers checking out at Wawa locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., can just let the clerk know their profession to get a free any size coffee, Wawa said.

Now, which coffee variety will teachers choose?

That’s because the district — one of the largest in South Jersey — has implemented a ban on cellphones, smart watches, ear buds and wireless headphones during class instruction.

Officials with the district said that the move is intended to help students focus in the classroom.

In a statement on the move, district officials said that the “use of wireless communication devices in schools, particularly cell phones, has negative effects on academic performance, focus, and mental health.”

“To support school environments in which students can fully engage with their classmates and their teachers, and to focus attention upon classroom instruction, the Cherry Hill Board of Education has determined that the use of cell phones and other wireless communication devices by students during school hours should be limited,” officials said in a statement.

While the use of phones is banned during instructional periods, students will still be permitted to use them “during lunch, recess, between classes, while on school buses, or during co-curricular activities (unless the school’s Principal elects to prohibit such use during lunch and provided that any co-curricular use is approved by the co-curricular supervisor and does not create a safety hazard during the co-curricular activity).”

Students will be required to either keep phones silenced in a secure place — like a locker or backpack — during times when cellphone use is prohibited, officials said.

“I think it’s great. I think they need such a hard pause on the phones in general,” Dana DelGrosso, mother of middle school students, told NBC10’s Karen Hua. “I don’t even see how kids can learn when the phone is present because it’s such a distraction.”

“I hate it, it’s dumb,” London Atiya, a seventh grade student in Cherry Hill, argued. “They’ve been saying this for years but it’s never been done.”

However, there will be exceptions to this rule — for example, there will be concessions for students who need their phones for health or accessibility reasons.

Watch the video above to find out more about the TikTok trend fueling back-to-college spending.

That’s because the district — one of the largest in South Jersey — has implemented a ban on cellphones, smart watches, ear buds and wireless headphones during class instruction.

Officials with the district said that the move is intended to help students focus in the classroom.

In a statement on the move, district officials said that the “use of wireless communication devices in schools, particularly cell phones, has negative effects on academic performance, focus, and mental health.”

“To support school environments in which students can fully engage with their classmates and their teachers, and to focus attention upon classroom instruction, the Cherry Hill Board of Education has determined that the use of cell phones and other wireless communication devices by students during school hours should be limited,” officials said in a statement.

While the use of phones is banned during instructional periods, students will still be permitted to use them “during lunch, recess, between classes, while on school buses, or during co-curricular activities (unless the school’s Principal elects to prohibit such use during lunch and provided that any co-curricular use is approved by the co-curricular supervisor and does not create a safety hazard during the co-curricular activity).”

Students will be required to either keep phones silenced in a secure place — like a locker or backpack — during times when cellphone use is prohibited, officials said.

“I think it’s great. I think they need such a hard pause on the phones in general,” Dana DelGrosso, mother of middle school students, told NBC10’s Karen Hua. “I don’t even see how kids can learn when the phone is present because it’s such a distraction.”

“I hate it, it’s dumb,” London Atiya, a seventh grade student in Cherry Hill, argued. “They’ve been saying this for years but it’s never been done.”

However, there will be exceptions to this rule — for example, there will be concessions for students who need their phones for health or accessibility reasons.

That’s because the district — one of the largest in South Jersey — has implemented a ban on cellphones, smart watches, ear buds and wireless headphones during class instruction.

Officials with the district said that the move is intended to help students focus in the classroom.

In a statement on the move, district officials said that the “use of wireless communication devices in schools, particularly cell phones, has negative effects on academic performance, focus, and mental health.”

“To support school environments in which students can fully engage with their classmates and their teachers, and to focus attention upon classroom instruction, the Cherry Hill Board of Education has determined that the use of cell phones and other wireless communication devices by students during school hours should be limited,” officials said in a statement.

While the use of phones is banned during instructional periods, students will still be permitted to use them “during lunch, recess, between classes, while on school buses, or during co-curricular activities (unless the school’s Principal elects to prohibit such use during lunch and provided that any co-curricular use is approved by the co-curricular supervisor and does not create a safety hazard during the co-curricular activity).”

Students will be required to either keep phones silenced in a secure place — like a locker or backpack — during times when cellphone use is prohibited, officials said.

“I think it’s great. I think they need such a hard pause on the phones in general,” Dana DelGrosso, mother of middle school students, told NBC10’s Karen Hua. “I don’t even see how kids can learn when the phone is present because it’s such a distraction.”

“I hate it, it’s dumb,” London Atiya, a seventh grade student in Cherry Hill, argued. “They’ve been saying this for years but it’s never been done.”

However, there will be exceptions to this rule — for example, there will be concessions for students who need their phones for health or accessibility reasons.

Some states are reestablishing a federal pandemic-era policy that offered free school meals to all kids, and most of them are doing so on a permanent basis.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, students qualified for free or reduced-price school breakfasts and lunches based on their income. The federal government expanded that policy in March 2020, allowing schools to provide meals at no cost to all students, regardless of income.

That expansion was in place for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years. About 90% of U.S. school districts participated, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, Congress didn’t extend the policy for the 2022-23 school year.

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Nine states have passed legislation to bring back free school meals for all, according to Food Research & Action Center data. Seven of them — California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico and Vermont — have made the policy permanent, according to FRAC. Nevada did so on a temporary basis for the 2023-24 school year.

The Massachusetts Legislature passed a budget bill Monday that would permanently fund a universal free-meal program. Gov. Maura Healey is expected to sign the measure into law.  

The state laws are a direct response to the end of the federal free-meal waivers, experts said. The policies affect K-12 students, though some extend to prekindergarten, too, they said.

Pandemic offered a ‘trial run’ for free meals

“The pandemic was a trial run and it worked,” Crystal FitzSimons, FRAC’s director of school and out-of-school time programs, said of the universal free school meals.

Among other successes, the program alleviated pressure on household food budgets, FitzSimons said.

The average household with two school-age children pays $162 a month — $1,458 per year — for full-price school breakfasts and lunches, according to an Agriculture Department report issued last month. That expense is more than households’ average electricity bill at $122 a month in 2021, the report said.

The USDA analysis was based on meal costs in the 2016-17 school year, when schools charged an average $1.48 and $2.57 for full-price breakfasts and lunches, respectively.

Inflationary pressures have since pushed up prices in many school districts, which have contended with higher costs for food and labor, said Diane Pratt-Heavner, a spokeswoman for the School Nutrition Association.

During the most recent school year, the typical K-12 student paid between $1.73 and $1.80 for a full-price breakfast and between $2.75 and $3 for lunch, according to the School Nutrition Association. The price range reflects the different costs for elementary, middle and high school students.

Since local school districts set their own prices, they can “vary widely” across the country, the School Nutrition Association said.

Loss of free meals may lead to hardship

In 2021, the National School Lunch Program provided 2.2 billion meals, about 99% of which were at a free or reduced price, according to USDA data. By comparison, 74% of meals were at a free or reduced price in 2019.

Students pay 30 cents and 40 cents, respectively, for reduced-price breakfasts and lunches.

The expiration of federal free-meal waivers for all students may potentially contribute “to the financial hardship of some households” at a time when inflation has led to an increase in the cost of living, wrote Saied Toossi, a USDA agricultural economist.

Kids from “food-insecure and marginally food-secure” households are more likely to eat school meals, according to the USDA.

Nearly two dozen other state legislatures are working to pass bills to extend the pandemic-era relief, according to FRAC.

In the meantime, families in the 41 states without a free-meal-for-all policy must apply for free or reduced-price school meals, as was the case before 2020.

Children qualify for free meals if their household’s income is 130% of the federal poverty level or lower. For the 2023-24 school year, that amounts to $39,000 or less for a family of four, according to the School Nutrition Association.

They’re eligible for reduced-price meals if their household income is between 130% and 185% of the poverty line, or up to $55,500 for a family of four.

Families with higher incomes must generally pay full price.