For the first time in four years, most students attending Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) will no longer receive free lunch unless they qualify for free or reduced-price meal programs.
The Miami-Dade School Board voted this week to end the district’s universal free lunch program after it no longer met the federal requirements under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The program allows schools with a high percentage of students enrolled in qualifying government assistance programs to provide free meals to all students at no cost.
According to the district, the percentage of students who are automatically eligible for free meals through programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, foster care, and other federal assistance programs dropped from 64% in 2022 to 45.1% this year. Because the district no longer meets the federal threshold, it is no longer eligible for districtwide reimbursement for free lunches.
While the change affects many families, not every student will have to pay for school meals.
Free breakfast will continue for students in elementary schools and K-8 centers, and 121 Miami-Dade schools will continue offering both free breakfast and lunch through the Community Eligibility Provision. Students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on household income or participation in eligible assistance programs will also continue receiving meal benefits.
To help ease the transition into the new school year, Miami-Dade County Public Schools announced that all students will receive free breakfast and lunch during the first 30 school days while families complete meal benefit applications and eligibility is determined.
District officials are encouraging parents whose children attend schools that are no longer covered by CEP to submit an application for free or reduced-price meals as soon as possible before the school year begins.
The decision marks a significant shift for one of the nation’s largest school districts, ending a program that provided free lunches to all students since 2022 through expanded federal meal funding during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Families can check their school’s meal eligibility status and submit applications through Miami-Dade County Public Schools’ Food and Nutrition Services Department.
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