Sept. 27, 2023
The USDA has lowered the threshold for schools to qualify for free breakfast and lunch programs, making millions of additional students in low-income communities eligible. The federal government will now cover the cost of free meals for all enrolled students in schools where 25% of families participate in income-based public benefits -- down from the previous threshold of 40% -- benefiting approximately 3,000 additional school districts and more than 5 million students.