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 and under) if their families' household incomes meet the current income eligibility guidelines. Children who participate in certain other programs, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) 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.
Your Next Steps
The following information will lead you to the next steps to apply for this benefit.
Program Contact Information
