The Kentucky Legislature’s Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee held a hearing today on the operation and problems with the recently revised federal free and reduced cost school lunch program. While this program is intended to help needy kids, the new, one-size-must-fit-all rules are creating major problems for Kentucky state educators who are trying to make the program work for students.

A few of the issues mentioned included standardized amounts of food based on grade of attendance instead of child size, which probably creates over- and under-feeding of many students who don’t have “average” bodies.

It is also illegal now for parent school booster organizations to run things like a bake sale in school.

And, the Kentucky Department of Education is currently being forced, against its will, to fine schools that break any of the many new restrictions that have been imposed from Washington.

A number of Kentucky legislators expressed concern, including Representative Brian Linder (R) Dry Ridge, who noted with concern the federal government’s growing intrusion into state management areas. You can hear Linder’s comments in this You Tube.