Program Description
School lunch and school breakfast programs make nutritionally balanced meals available to children as part of their regular school day. Over 95,000 schools offer low-cost or free lunches, and more than 78,000 schools offer low-cost or free breakfasts. Some schools offer snacks to children in afterschool programs. All school meals must meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and USDA’s nutrition standards.
General Program Requirements
Children qualify to receive free or low-cost meals while they attend school (high school or under) if their families’ household incomes meet the current income eligibility guidelines. Children who participate in certain other programs, such as Food Stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and children who are migrant, runaway, or homeless are automatically eligible for free meals. You can find out what the maximum income limits for eligibility are at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/notices/iegs/IEGs.htm
Application Process
For more information, see the Program Contact Information below.
Program Contact Information
Contact your child’s school to find out what meals are served, and
how to apply for free or reduced-price meals. Your state education agency
can also give you information about school meals. The Food and Nutrition
Service provides program and state contact information at these web
pages:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/
and
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Contacts/StateDirectory.htm
Managing Agency
U.S. Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov/
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