School lunches will be changing as USDA stops funding, families can apply for district free and reduced meals
Beginning in August, the United States Department of Agriculture is no longer providing schools with funding to maintain free meals for all students during the school year. When school resumes this fall, families across the country will once again be required to pay full price school meals or apply through their school district for free and reduced meals.
Full lunch prices for the fall will be $3.60 for elementary and $3.75 for secondary students, though not all students will need to pay that full price. We know budgets are tight with gas and home prices being what they are and with inflation, but there is some support for school lunch funding.
There are a variety of factors that can affect whether a child qualifies for support, children in foster care, runaways or homeless youth, children of migrant workers, and, of course, children in families under certain income limits, which vary depending on the size of the family can all qualify. Those who qualify for reduced rates will see lunch prices of $0.40 for both elementary and secondary students. Some families will qualify for fully free lunches.
We would encourage all families, regardless of income level, or belief of not qualifying to complete a free and reduced meal application. If everyone in the district completes the paperwork, we can make sure we don’t miss anyone receiving that extra financial support they need, we would also prefer everyone to complete the form to eliminate any stigma around completing the form, and you never know if you will qualify or not. We know income level can be a sensitive subject. You can complete it online, which is preferred, or via paper form at your school.
Our schools and district may receive additional governmental support based on the number of students that qualify for free and reduced lunches. Even if you think your family doesn’t qualify or your student doesn’t eat with us, please complete the application anyway. It just takes a moment, and you might be the one family that pushes us over the number needed to qualify for more grants and funding for Beggs.