A state audit to determ
California unable to determine if charter schools are meeting students' nutritional needs
Though charters aren't required to provide free or low-cost food to needy students, the growth of the system has raised interest in the issue. But available information is too spotty for the state to know how many charter students need the aid or are getting it.
ine whether public charter school students are receiving nutritional meals on campus could not be fully completed because government databases are not reliable or detailed enough, officials said Thursday.Although the report found that many California charter schools provide meals to their students, state auditor Elaine Howle said it was not possible to determine how many of the students were eligible for or participating in subsidized lunch and breakfast programs.
Charter schools — independently run, publicly financed campuses — are exempt from the federal law requiring public schools to provide needy students with at least one nutritionally adequate meal a day at a reduced price or for free.
Advocates for low-income families are concerned that this could force some parents to choose between the educational and nutritional needs of their children.
Assemblywoman Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) said she requested the audit in January because the number of charter schools is growing, and research has shown a link between academic