Pandemic-Era Free School Meals Expire, Leaving Some Districts Seeking Solutions

Isabelle Sarraf:

Some federal pandemic-era provisions that allowed schools to serve universal free meals will expire when districts start school for the fall, leaving many districts unprepared to make up the difference and urging parents to apply for a free or reduced-price lunch. The expiration comes as supply-chain disruptions and rising food prices are pushing school-meal prices higher.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service in fiscal year 2020 suspended eligibility requirements for free and reduced-price meal applications and gave every student a free breakfast and lunch regardless of family income. The government pumped $26.8 billion from pandemic-related funds such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to provide universal free lunch in fiscal year 2021.

In 2019, 67.9% of students received free lunches through the National School Lunch Program, while 5.7% got reduced-price lunches.