Since the pandemic began, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has allowed students in grades K-12 to get free school breakfast and lunch, no matter their family’s income.

Congress did not extend that waiver, and it will end June 30.

In response, CMS will update to meal policy so that students don’t go hungry.

The updated policy includes:

• free breakfast and lunch will continue to be provided in all CMS schools at no charge during the summer
• free breakfast at all schools during the school year.
• school in Community Eligibility Provision schools (low-income areas) will serve meals at no charge to all enrolled students without collecting meal benefit applications from households. 
• students at non-CEP schools will have to qualify for free or reduced-price lunch through direct certification (food stamps, homeless or foster child) or through an approved free or reduced-priced meal benefit application. 
• applications will be available online or on paper beginning August 1. 

CMS will keep meal prices at pre-pandemic levels, an official told QCity Metro.

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