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School Breakfast and Lunch Programs

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What are School Meal Programs?

The School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program provide nutritious meals for free or at a reduced price to school-aged children when they are in school.

How Does it Work?

Breakfast and lunch are served for free or at a reduced-price to eligible families at participating schools.

Free breakfast and lunch are served at no cost to families.

Reduced-price breakfast is provided to families for 30 cents per meal or less, and reduced-priced lunch is provided to families for 40 cents per meal or less.

Who is Eligible?

Income Requirement

Reduced Price Meals

For reduced price meals, household income must be under 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Gross income includes all income from your job or self-employment, and other income like social security, disability, child support, worker’s comp, unemployment, and pension income.

 

Maximum Gross Income by Household Size
(July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025)

Persons in Household Monthly Income Annual Income
1 $2,322 $27,861
2 $3,152 $37,814
3 $3,981 $47,767
4 $4,810 $57,720
5 $5,640 $67,673
6 $6,469 $77,626
7 $7,299 $87,579
8 $8,128 $97,532

 

 

Free Meals

For free meals, household income must be under 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. Gross income includes all income from your job or self-employment, and other income like social security, disability, child support, worker’s comp, unemployment, and pension income.

 

Maximum Gross Income by Household Size
(July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025)

Persons in Household Monthly Income Annual Income
1 $1,632 $19,578
2 $2,215 $26,572
3 $2,798 $33,566
4 $3,380 $40,560
5 $3,963 $47,554
6 $4,546 $54,548
7 $5,129 $61,542
8 $5,712 $68,536

 

Age Requirement

Children enrolled in participating PreK-12 public and nonprofit private schools.

Citizenship Requirement

No citizenship requirement.

How Do I Apply?

There are three ways that eligible families can get connected to free or reduced-price school meals.

School Meal Application

To apply for free or reduced price school breakfast or lunch, contact your child’s school. Applications are typically done annually during school registration, but you can submit or update your application at any time.

Participation in a Qualifying Program

Some children qualify for free or reduced-price meals because they are enrolled in another qualifying program, such as:

 

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Link)
  • TANF
  • Medicaid
  • Head Start Program
  • Children in Care/foster care

Some children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals based on their status as a homeless, migrant, or runaway youth.

 

Contact your child’s school for details.

 

Community Eligibility Provision

Some schools are Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools, meaning that meals are provided free to all students, regardless of income. Contact your child’s school to find out if their school is a CEP school.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

There are several programs that support families with children, from pregnancy through high school. Learn more about nutrition programs for families with children.