Hunger Action Network of New York State

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) are federally assisted meal programs that provide nutritionally balanced free, low-cost, or full-price meals to schoolchildren.

School meals are a great food resource for parents and kids. Parents are guaranteed that their children get the food they need and kids get to enjoy nutritious meals.

Every school day, more than 27 million children in 97,000 schools across the country eat a lunch provided through the National School Lunch Program. More than half of these children receive the meal free or at a reduced price. Through the School Breakfast Program, 7.5 million children are eating breakfast in more than 72,000 schools.

The School Lunch Program also provides nutrition education and opportunities for students to practice the skills they learn. All school meals must meet the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Why School Meals Are Important
Studies show that children need proper nutrition in order to learn and develop. Yet statistics indicate that over one million children in our state are either hungry or are at risk of hunger. School meal programs ensure that all children will get the nutrition they need to grow and develop. Please encourage the children in your community to participate in school meal programs!

Who Is Eligible?
All children can obtain nutritious breakfast or lunch at participating schools. Meals may be free, reduced price, or full price depending on the income of the household. Below are the gross monthly income eligibility guidelines that a household must meet in order to be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Income guidelines for lunch and breakfast are the same.

Children from households that receive welfare, food stamps or Medicaid automatically qualify for free meals.

Students can be charged no more than 30 cents for reduced price breakfasts and 40 cents for reduced price lunches!

Household Size	School Breakfast & Lunch Reduced Price Meals	School Breakfast & Lunch Free Meals
1	$1476	$1037
2	$1978	$1390
3	$2481	$1744
4	$2984	$2097
5	$3486	$2450
6	$3989	$2803
7	$4491	$3156
8	$4994	$3509
For each additional family member, add $503 for Reduced Price Meals and $354 for Free Meals.

How to Participate
School breakfasts and lunches are available at public schools, nonprofit private schools, or residential child-care institutions. In New York State, almost all public schools are a part of the National School Lunch Program. To receive free or reduced price meals, some children and their families must file an application with the school. Applications can be obtained through the School Food Service Manager or the School Business Office.

Children whose families receive public assistance, food stamps or Medicaid do not need to submit an application. Instead, a certification letter may be obtained from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and submitted to the child’s school.

If you do not have a Social Security number, you can indicate that on the application and you will not be denied meals.

School Snacks
As of 1998, the National School Lunch Program also provides nutritious snacks to students enrolled in after-school programs. After school snacks are provided to children on the same income eligibility basis as school meals. Ask your School Food Service Manager or the School Business Office for more information or call the Hunger Action Network.

Helpful Resources for the School Meal Programs

Nutrition Consortium of New York State

Community Food Resource Center - NYC

United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/breakfast/

Overview

Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program

Food Stamp Program

School Meal Programs

Summer Food Service Program

WIC Program