Requiring eligible boards of education to consider participation in the community eligibility provision, providing a financial hardship exception from such participation and requiring the state department of education to assist school districts seeking such participation.

HB 2637 requires Kansas school districts that qualify under federal guidelines (where at least 40% of students are eligible for free school meals) to consider joining the federal Community Eligibility Provision, which allows all students in a school to receive free meals without individual applications. School boards must vote to participate if eligible, but can opt out by demonstrating financial hardship at a public meeting. The Kansas State Department of Education must provide assistance to districts seeking to join the program. This directly affects school districts with high poverty rates, enabling them to simplify meal access while offering a financial hardship exception.