Oklahoma School Supper Program Ending October 1

Oklahoma School Supper Program Ending October 1 Draws Bipartisan Criticism

The Oklahoma State Department of Education is facing criticism from rural school leaders, lawmakers and hunger advocates over its decision to discontinue a federal program that has allowed some schools with extended days to provide students with a third meal.

The Oklahoma school supper program known as Expanded Learning Time will end October 1, when the new federal fiscal year begins. State education officials say compliance problems with federal requirements led to the decision. District leaders say the announcement came after school had already started and left them little time to restructure programs built around providing students with an afternoon meal.

State records reviewed by Oklahoma Voice show 132 school sites, all in rural areas, were approved for the Expanded Learning Time option during the 2025-26 school year.

Oklahoma School Supper Program Ends After Compliance Concerns

The dispute centers on the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, or CACFP, and rules governing meals provided through extended-day and after-school programs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has long allowed schools operating longer than a traditional school day to qualify for after-school meal reimbursement under certain conditions. Federal guidance says expanded learning programs must include educational or enrichment activities and meet other eligibility requirements.

State officials say reviews uncovered cases where there was no identifiable academic or enrichment activity beyond the meal itself. The Education Department says it decided to discontinue the Expanded Learning Time option after consultation with USDA.

Federal guidance on eligibility for expanded-day programs is available through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

The Education Department is encouraging affected districts to consider transitioning to another federal program that provides food during qualifying after-school activities. As of the report, 13 districts had begun that application process, while regular school breakfast and lunch programs are not affected.

Rural Oklahoma Schools Say Decision Came Too Late

Some district leaders say the biggest problem is not simply the policy change, but when they learned about it.

Hartshorne Public Schools has structured its schedules around the program for eight years. Superintendent Jason Lindley said the district extended its school day and built bus schedules, personnel contracts and meal schedules around providing the additional meal.

In Haworth Public Schools, Superintendent Jerrod Lundry disputed claims that districts had been adequately warned. He said the Education Department was still recommending the Expanded Learning Time option as recently as July 30.

Lundry said his 400-student southeast Oklahoma district cannot simply create a traditional after-school program because its large geographic footprint makes running separate bus routes impractical. He warned that the students most dependent on the third meal could be among those least able to remain after school.

Hunger Free Oklahoma has also criticized the decision, saying the program uses federal nutrition dollars to feed children who remain at school for extended instruction and enrichment without additional cost to the state.

The organization's response to the cancellation is available through Hunger Free Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Lawmakers Push Back Against School Meal Cancellation

The decision has also generated bipartisan opposition at the Oklahoma Capitol.

Fifty lawmakers from both chambers signed a letter organized by Sen. David Bullard of Durant asking the Education Department to delay the change until after the current school year.

Bullard argued schools had already hired employees, purchased food and committed taxpayer dollars based on the expectation that the program would continue.

Senate Education Committee Chairman Adam Pugh said lawmakers were "blindsided" by the announcement and questioned why districts were not given more time to adjust. Pugh said there may be legitimate reasons to scrutinize compliance with the program, but he does not believe that required Oklahoma to terminate the option in the middle of the academic year.

The broader federal At-Risk Afterschool Meals program remains available nationwide and provides reimbursement for qualifying programs serving children in low-income communities. More information about federal requirements is available through the USDA CACFP At-Risk Afterschool Care Handbook.

For affected Oklahoma districts, however, the immediate deadline is approaching quickly. Unless the state reverses or delays its decision, the Expanded Learning Time meal option ends October 1, forcing schools that have relied on the program to find another way to provide food to students who remain on campus beyond the traditional school day.

🔴 MORE RADIO NEWS