The Los Angeles Unified School District’s Food Services Division has announced that more than 520,000 students in the district qualify for free or reduced-price meals under the district’s summer meal services program.

“Our summer meals program is a building block in the community leading to healthy, happy youngsters who are ready to learn,” LAUSD superintendent Ramon C. Cortines said. “Our responsibility to our students doesn’t end when school lets out. Boys and girls who get enough to eat and have safe activities to participate in during the summer are less likely to get into trouble.”

The Food Services Division, in collaboration with the Beyond The Bell Branch, the district’s afterschool program, will operate the summer food program at 301 sites. The district is also partnering with the city of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department to provide meals at 106 additional sites.

For the majority of participating schools, the summer program runs from Monday, June 15 through Friday, July 24, and may be extended.

The program is operated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered by the California Department of Education. For information, contact the LAUSD Food Services Division at (213)241-6419 or (213)241-6422.