What is the National School Lunch Program and who is eligible?

MILLIONS of American children can get free or discounted meals every day under the National School Lunch Program.

The federally-funded program provides assistance to students in public and nonprofit private schools.

The program is administered by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service.

What is the National School Lunch Program and who is eligible?

The National School Lunch Program was signed into effect in 1946 by President Harry Truman as part of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.

Typically the second largest food and nutrition assistance program in the nation, according to the USDA, the program serves students from pre-k through 12th grade.

Low-cost or free lunches are provided every school day to qualifying students.

The program operates in around 100,000 public and nonprofit private schools and served about 22.6million students each school day in 2020.

This was a decline from the 29.6million students who benefitted from the program in 2019, likely due to the Covid pandemic.

There are different qualifications for low-cost and free lunches depending on household income.

In order to receive a free lunch, students must come from households with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty line.

For reduced-price lunches, students must come from homes between 130% and 185% of the Federal poverty line.

Low-cost full-price lunches are available to those students who live in homes about 185% of the federal poverty line.

Income eligibility guidelines change each year.

For the 2022-2023 school year, a family of four with a gross income of $36,075 would qualify for free meals.

A family of four with a gross income of $51,338 would qualify for reduced cost meals.

How does it work?

While the National School Lunch Program can operate in public and nonprofit private schools pre-k through 12th grade, public and nonprofit private residential child care companies may be able to participate as well.

Charter schools can also participate as public schools, according to the program’s fact sheet.

Cash subsidies and USDA foods are provided to participating schools for all meals served that are reimbursable.

The National School Lunch Program must then serve lunches meeting federal meal pattern requirements, as explained on the USDA website.

These requirements, last updated in 2012 according to the USDA’s website, include increased availability of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in school lunches.

Fat-free and low-fat milk must also be readily available.

Sodium levels, saturated fats, and trans fats should be low, and meals must “meet the nutrition needs of school children within their calorie requirements,” the January 2012 ruling states.

How to apply

Students who receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) automatically qualify for free school meals through the National School Lunch Program.

Participation in other federal programs also qualifies students for the lunch program.

However, if you do not receive other government benefits, school meal applications are generally sent home at the start of each school year.

Contact your child’s school for assistance, or if you need an application, which can be filled out at any time during the year.

We explain who is eligible to receive $375 payments per child this week.

We also explain how you can save extra cash before Christmas if you receive SNAP benefits.