NewsNoticias Tampa Bay (Univision)July 31, 2026Hillsborough
Colorado Allocates $23.8 Million to Boost School Meal Programs
The Colorado Department of Education is distributing $23.8 million to support the 'Healthy School Meals for All' program, focusing on local food sourcing and staff compensation. The funding aims to increase the use of Colorado-grown ingredients and improve wages for school nutrition workers.
Read the full story at Noticias Tampa Bay (Univision)Why It Matters
This funding directly impacts school districts and across Colorado by providing resources for local food procurement and staff retention for the 2026-2027 school year.
Key Facts
- The Colorado Department of Education is allocating $23.8 million to the 'Healthy School Meals for All' program.
- $15.4 million is designated for 131 school districts and 14 charter schools for the 2026-2027 school year to purchase Colorado-grown and prepared food.
- $8.4 million is allocated to 151 school districts through the 'Wages and Stipends Grant' to increase pay for nutrition staff.
- The program mandates the creation of Student and Parent Advisory Committees to assist in menu planning.
- Specialized organizations will provide technical assistance for schools to transition to 'from-scratch' cooking and kitchen improvements.
- The initiative aims to support local farmers, ranchers, and food businesses by integrating local ingredients into school menus.
Who's Mentioned
other14“Number of charter schools receiving food procurement funds.”organizationColorado Department of Education“The state agency announcing and managing the distribution of funds.”otherHealthy School Meals for All“The state program providing free school meals to all students.”other131“Number of school districts receiving food procurement funds.”other151“Number of school districts receiving staff wage grants.”