Child Nutrition Programs.

The United States Department of Agriculture subsidizes several child nutrition programs, which the state administers to provide healthy food to children.  The programs include the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and the Special Milk Program.  The NSLP and the SBP are federally assisted meal programs operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions.  The programs provide nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.

Free and Reduced-Price Meals.

To qualify for free meals, a student's family income must be at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level.  Students whose families have an income between 130 percent and 185 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals (up to 40 cents per lunch).  Students whose families earn more than 185 percent of the poverty level pay full price, but the meals in all cases are federally subsidized to some extent.

Beginning with the 2021-22 school year, lunch copays for students qualifying for reduced-price lunches are eliminated.