Increase in Nevada students receiving free meals

CARSON CITY — A new report shows the number of Nevada schoolchildren receiving free or reduced-price meals increased to more than 54 percent statewide.

The annual report issued Thursday by the state Department of Agriculture shows more than 233,000 students meet income eligibility requirements this year, up 6,000 students from the year before.

It’s also a dramatic increase in numbers from 2008, when 170,000 students or 40 percent qualified.

Nearly 295,000 meals are served daily in Nevada to children in the national lunch and breakfast programs.

Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals and are charged no more than 40 cents