Elementary students in Nova Scotia public schools will be the first to get servings from a new provincial school lunch program in October.
Education Minister Becky Druhan says the first phase of the pay-what-you-can program will serve more than 75,000 students in 250 schools.
Druhan says families can choose to pay the full $6.50 price of the lunch, part of that cost or nothing at all, adding that all payment information will be kept confidential.
The program will be rolled out across the province on Oct.1, 15 and 28, and parents will be able to place their orders two weeks before the program begins.
Families can order through a website and choose from two lunch options each day with at least one vegetarian meal.
The provincial government committed $18.8 million for the first year of the program in the 2024-25 budget.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 23, 2024.