USDA Expands Free School Breakfast and Lunch Access for More Students

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a significant expansion of access to free school breakfast and lunch for millions of additional students in schools serving low-income communities nationwide.

The expansion focuses on the Community Eligibility Provision, a meal service option that enables schools to offer no-cost meals to all students. Previously, at least 40% of students’ households had to be enrolled in income-based federal assistance programs for schools to qualify. Under the new rule, this threshold has been lowered to 25%.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, “Increasing access to free, healthy school breakfast and lunch will decrease childhood hunger, improve child health and student readiness, and put our nation on the path to better nutrition and wellness.”

Approximately 3,000 additional school districts, serving more than 5 million students, will now be eligible for this program. The USDA is set to distribute $30 million in grants from the Healthy Meals Incentives to 264 rural school districts across the country. An additional $30 million in equipment grants will be allocated to states and school districts with school lunch programs. Furthermore, $11 million in Farm to School grants will benefit 1.2 million children.

While eight states, including California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Vermont, already allow schools to provide free meals to all students, this rule change applies nationwide. It is particularly impactful in states and school districts that fund no-cost meals using their resources.

This development coincides with schools nationwide raising the cost of lunches and breakfasts for students this fall to offset food and staff expenses. Several districts, such as the Nassau County School District in New York, the Canyon Independent School District in Texas, and the Moore County Public School District in North Carolina, are set to implement price increases for school meals.

Additionally, the federal government is considering requiring schools to serve meals with reduced salt and sugar content, which could lead to higher preparation and serving costs.

Stacy Dean, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, emphasized, “Healthy school meals are an essential part of the school environment — just like teachers, classrooms, and books – and set kids up for success and better health. While there is still more work ahead to ensure every K-12 student in the nation can access healthy school meals at no cost, this is a significant step on the pathway towards that goal.”

This program not only reduces food expenses for families but also enhances meal security for households near the income threshold while eliminating school debt related to nutrition. Furthermore, it diminishes the social stigma associated with students who receive reduced-cost meals.