About 600 Los Angeles Unified schools will start serving supper to offset expected delays to the federal food assistance program.

“The rumbling stomach of a child will prevent that child from learning,” said Superintendent Alberto Carvalho at a press conference Thursday. “It is not humane. It is not compassionate. We will not stand by it.”

Carvalho said Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits feed about 217,000 students in the district.

The Trump administration has said it will not tap emergency funds to sustain the program, known locally as CalFresh, during the federal shutdown. That means no payments will be issued in November to the 1 in 8 U.S. residents who participate in the program. California is among the states suing to keep the SNAP funded .

Every L

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