Ethan Brooks
In the United States, public schools are not required to offer breakfast and lunch to students. However, schools that choose to participate in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) receive reimbursements from the federal government and, in some cases, state governments. These programs are designed to ensure that students have access to nutritious meals and are ready to learn. Schools that participate in these programs must serve meals that meet federal nutritional requirements and offer free or reduced-price meals to eligible children. While participation in these programs is not mandatory for public schools, it provides financial support and helps improve the nutritional quality of meals offered to students.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can participate in the School Breakfast Program? | Public or nonprofit private schools of high school grade or under and public or nonprofit private residential child care institutions |
| What are the nutritional requirements for school breakfasts? | School breakfasts must meet the applicable recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, with limits on sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, and calories |
| Who is eligible for free or reduced-price breakfasts? | Children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130% and 185% of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals. |
| How much reimbursement do schools get? | Schools receive cash reimbursements from the USDA for each breakfast served, with higher rates for schools in severe need. |
| What is the cost of the program? | In fiscal year 2003, Congress appropriated $1.68 billion for the School Breakfast Program. |
| Are public schools required to offer breakfast and lunch? | In California, public schools are required to provide nutritionally adequate breakfast and lunch to students who request it, free of charge, under the Universal Meals Program. |
| Are there similar programs in other states? | Yes, in Massachusetts, school meals are free of charge for all students attending schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program as of the 2023-2024 school year. |
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What You'll Learn
School Breakfast Program (SBP)
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is a federally funded meal program that provides free and reduced-cost breakfasts to children at public and private schools, as well as childcare facilities in the United States. The program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and is funded by annual agricultural appropriations.
The SBP began as a 2-year pilot project in 1966, designed to provide grants to assist schools in serving "nutritionally needy" students. In 1971, Congress modified the program, making it available to schools that needed to improve the nutrition and dietary practices of children from low-income families and with working parents. The SBP was permanently authorized in 1975 for all schools requiring assistance in providing better nutrition for their students and seeking higher reimbursement for meals.
Federal funding is provided in the form of cash reimbursements for each breakfast served, with the amount varying according to the family income of the participating child. Schools may qualify for higher "severe need" reimbursements if a specified percentage of their lunches are served free or at a reduced price. Schools set their own prices for breakfasts served to students who pay the full meal price, although they must operate their meal services as non-profit programs.
The meal pattern for breakfast includes fruits or vegetables, whole grain-rich foods, meats or meat alternatives, and milk. Breakfasts are limited in sodium, calories, saturated fats, and trans fats. Decisions about specific foods and their preparation are made by local school food authorities. These meals must meet federal nutrition standards, which were updated in the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 to more closely match the Federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans. All children in participating schools and residential institutions are eligible for a federally subsidized meal, regardless of family income. However, free meals must be provided to children from families with incomes below 130% of the federal poverty level, and reduced-price meals to those with family incomes between 130% and 185% of the poverty level.
The SBP has had a significant impact on food insecurity and students' academic performance. Research has found that participation in the program is associated with children having a lower body mass index (BMI) and improved academic achievement, including higher standardized test scores and better grades, specifically in mathematics.
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National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federal program that provides nutritionally balanced meals to children in nearly 100,000 public and private schools and residential child care institutions across the United States. The program is administered by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and provides low-cost or free lunches to students, with the goal of addressing child hunger and promoting good nutrition.
The NSLP plays a critical role in ensuring the healthy development and long-term health and educational outcomes of low-income children. It is an entitlement program that guarantees a set reimbursement for each qualifying meal or snack served. Schools receive cash reimbursements from the USDA for each lunch or snack served, and they must meet federal nutritional requirements. The NSLP is required to provide one-third of the daily calorie, protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin E needs of its participants.
Any student in a participating school can get an NSLP lunch. Students from households with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty line are eligible for free lunches, while those between 130% and 185% of the poverty line can receive reduced-price lunches. Students from households above 185% of the poverty line can still receive low-cost, full-price lunches. In fiscal year (FY) 2024, the NSLP provided over 4.8 billion lunches at a total cost of $17.7 billion.
The NSLP After-School Snack Program, authorized by Congress in 1998, allows participating schools to offer nutritious snacks to enrolled students as part of after-care educational programs or enrichment activities. Snacks that meet federal nutrition requirements are subsidized on a sliding scale, depending on whether students qualify for free, reduced-price, or full-price meals. Schools with a higher proportion of students receiving free or reduced-price lunches, as well as those in high-poverty districts and urban areas, are more likely to offer the NSLP After-School Snack Program.
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Nutritional requirements
In the United States, public schools are not required to offer breakfast and lunch. However, schools that choose to participate in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP) receive reimbursements from the federal government and are required to meet certain nutritional standards.
The SBP and NSLP are federal programs that provide reimbursements to schools for each meal served. These programs are administered by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Schools that participate in these programs must serve meals that meet federal nutritional requirements and offer free or reduced-price meals to eligible children.
The nutritional requirements for school meals emphasize whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products, with limits on sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, and calories. For example, the meal pattern for breakfast includes fruits (or vegetables), whole grain-rich foods and/or meats/meat alternates, and milk. Milk options include nonfat or low-fat unflavored milk, with the option of non-fat or low-fat flavored milk.
Schools have some flexibility in how they implement these requirements, and local school food authorities make decisions about specific foods and preparation methods. Additionally, schools can choose to use the Offer vs Serve (OVS) option, which allows students to choose from a variety of food offerings to reduce waste and increase the likelihood that students will eat what they choose.
States may also have their own meal programs and nutritional requirements that build upon the federal programs. For example, California's Universal Meals Program requires public schools to provide a nutritionally adequate breakfast and lunch to all students who request it free of charge. Similarly, Massachusetts students attending schools that participate in the NSLP receive free school meals, including breakfast and lunch, regardless of their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.
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School reimbursements
In the United States, public schools can participate in the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program. These programs are operated by the Food and Nutrition Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Schools that choose to take part in these programs receive reimbursements from the USDA for each meal they serve. In return, they must serve meals that meet federal requirements and offer free or reduced-price meals to eligible children.
The School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program are designed to ensure that students from low-income families have access to nutritious meals. Children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty level are eligible for free meals, while those with incomes between 130% and 185% of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals. Schools are required to directly certify children from households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for free meals. Additionally, children in foster care, migrant, homeless, or runaway situations are also eligible for free meals.
The reimbursement rates for school meals vary and are based on the number of meals served and the level of need within the school. Schools may qualify for higher "severe need" reimbursements if a specified percentage of their meals are served free or at a reduced price. For example, schools can receive an additional $0.48 for each free or reduced-price breakfast served in "severe need" schools. The USDA also provides higher reimbursement rates for schools in Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
The USDA's Summer Food Service Program allows schools serving low-income communities to provide free meals and snacks to children during the summer months. Additionally, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program provides free fresh fruit and vegetable snacks to students in elementary schools with high free and reduced-price eligibility rates.
While these programs provide essential support to schools and students, financial pressures and rising costs have made it challenging for schools to cover the full cost of producing meals. Many schools rely on federal reimbursements to sustain their meal programs and prevent cuts to their education budgets. As a result, there have been calls for Congress to increase federal reimbursement rates to ensure that schools can continue providing healthy meals to students.
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California's State Meal Mandate
In the 2022-23 school year, California became the first state to implement a statewide Universal Meals Program (UMP) for school children. The program is built on the foundations of the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).
Certified nonpublic schools may prepare meals on-site, purchase meals from private vendors, or contract with another LEA to receive meals. If a nonpublic school is a non-profit, they may be eligible to operate as a sponsor of the SNPs and receive federal reimbursement for compliant meals served to students.
Funding
The California State Legislature allocates funds to provide state meal reimbursement to cover the cost of the UMP. The California Department of Education (CDE) provides additional per-meal reimbursement to LEAs for nutritionally adequate meals served to students, as long as the LEA is approved to participate in the NSLP and SBP and serves USDA reimbursable meals. To receive state meal reimbursement, LEAs must also participate in the NSLP and SBP.
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Frequently asked questions
In California, public schools are required to offer nutritionally adequate breakfast and lunch to all children each school day. This mandate is expanded to include both breakfast and lunch for all children each school day, with schools receiving state meal reimbursement.
School meals must meet the applicable recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and are designed to ensure students enter the classroom well-nourished and ready to learn. The meal pattern includes fruits or vegetables, whole grain-rich foods, meats or meat alternates, and milk. Meals are limited in sodium, calories, saturated fats, and trans fats.
The School Breakfast Program is available to public or nonprofit private schools of high school grade or under and public or nonprofit private residential child care institutions. Schools that choose to participate receive cash subsidies from the USDA for each meal they serve and, in return, must serve breakfasts that meet federal requirements and offer free or reduced-price breakfasts to eligible children.
