Kansas schools could be required to verify family income for every student receiving free lunch

By: Anna Kaminski

Outlets: Kansas Reflector

Published: January 30, 2026

Words: 1,021

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 2 days ago

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TOPEKA — In Vicki Schumacher’s nutrition services office at Wichita Public Schools, staff spend roughly two hours verifying one free lunch application from start to finish.

Under proposed legislation, the office could see its work increase twentyfold.

Current federal law requires schools to verify free and reduced lunch eligibility for a random sample amounting to 3% or 3,000 of recipients — whichever is less — but a bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Doug Shane requires …

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