[Middle East Forum] The Halal ProgramsPublic schools in Dearborn, Michigan, first began offering halal lunches in 2001. That winter, the school district invited "proposals from halal food distributors to provide food at several of its 28 public schools," and began a pilot program. Presently, according to David Mustonen, director of community and public relations for Dearborn Public Schools, "All schools have a halal option five days a week."
Dearborn Heights' Crestwood School District started a halal food pilot program in 2013-14. Last year, Crawford High School in San Diego operated a pilot program offering a halal lunch option twice a week.
Legislators in both New York City and New York State have proposed mandating public schools to serve halal food. In February 2014, New York City Councilman Rafael Espinal introduced a resolution requiring New York City schools "to provide a halal lunch menu option." Three separate bills have been introduced in the New York State Assembly during the current (2015-16) term that would require public schools in big cities to offer halal lunch options. One of them requires that the food be provided to Muslim students "at no cost."