The Department of Education, in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare, shall establish a statewide program to provide nutritious meals at school for pupils. Either or both of such departments may cooperate with and enter into contracts with the United States Departments of Health, Education and Welfare and Agriculture in order to implement the provisions of this article.
The funds shall be allocated to the school districts in such a manner that priority shall be given to providing free meals to the neediest children. Determination with respect to the annual income of any household shall be made solely on the basis of an affidavit executed in such form as the United States Secretary of Agriculture may prescribe by an adult member of such household. The income poverty guidelines to be used for any fiscal year shall be those prescribed by the United States Secretary of Agriculture as of July 1 of each year.