U.S. government waives policy requiring that students come in person to pick up free school meals

The federal government is waiving a policy that required students to come in person to pick up free school meals for the duration of the novel coronavirus-driven closures, with officials citing concerns over families’ safety.

New guidance from the U.S. Agriculture Department, issued Wednesday, allows school districts to distribute meals “to a parent or guardian to take home to their children,” according to a copy obtained by The Washington Post. The waiver takes effect immediately, and applies automatically to all states that elect to use it.