From David Volz
Beginning next school year, Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) families will need to apply to determine their eligibility for free and reduced-price lunches. Due to changes in program funding that allowed BCPS to offer free lunches for all students over the past two years, the District will transition back to the application process previously in place. All students will continue to receive free breakfast through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Universal Free Breakfast Program.
For the past two years, the BCPS Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) Department assisted families with the cost of meals through the use of two USDA Programs – The Universal Free Lunch Pilot Program and the Community Eligibility Provision – supplemented by FNS funds. Starting in the 2025/26 school year, free and reduced-price lunches will be offered based on eligibility, requiring families to complete an application. Students who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits or enrolled in Head Start, Foster, Homeless, or Migrant are automatically certified to receive free lunch.
Families are encouraged to complete the meal eligibility application before the start of the 2025/26 school year. For students eligible for reduced-price lunches, meals are offered at $0.40 per meal. Overall, lunch prices are increasing by $1 for paying students across all grade levels. Lunch will cost $3 in elementary school, $3.35 in middle school and $3.50 in high school.
