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N.J. District Employees Lied to Get Free School Lunch for Their Kids

An investigation into New Jersey’s school lunch program by the Office of the State Comptroller found “widespread fraud” among district employees and their families, who allegedly lied about their income so their kids could eat for free.

An investigation into New Jersey’s school lunch program by the Office of the State Comptroller found “widespread fraud” among district employees and their families, who allegedly lied about their income so their kids could eat for free.

The investigation, which officials said was sparked by a series of reports by The Star-Ledger into similar lunch program abuses in the Elizabeth Board of Education, found false information on lunch program applications submitted from the households of 40 school district employees — as well as six elected school board members in Pleasantville, Newark and Paterson.

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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