AASA Praises New School Meal Regulations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
 
Contact:  
James Minichello  
703-774-6953  
jminichello@aasa.org 

Alexandria, Va. – April 24, 2024 – David R. Schuler, executive director of AASA, The School Superintendents Association, issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Final Rule on Updates to School Nutrition Standards.

“AASA supports the final rule on Updates to School Nutrition Standards released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture today.  

“For years, AASA has been sounding the alarm that when nutrition standards go too far, the result is meals that students are not willing to consume, undermining the entire purpose of the program – to feed students and ensure they are ready to learn. While not perfect, the new rule represents a reasonable and achievable path forward.  

“The new guidelines provide practical standards and a phased-in implementation approach that allows school leaders and nutrition professionals to continue their work to ensure students have the meals they need, without unnecessary disruption. 

“We appreciate USDA’s continued stakeholder engagement on this issue. It is evident that the Department listened to practitioners and put forward a compromise that ensures students are receiving healthy meals that they also enjoy eating.” 

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For more information, contact Tara Thomas, AASA policy analyst, at tthomas@aasa.org.

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About AASA 
AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASA’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.