For the past two years Broward County Public Schools have been able to provide free and reduced lunch to all of its students regardless of their income. From 2020 to 2022, schools received waivers to support student nutrition.
When the program ended, some schools were able to provide free lunches through CEP, the Community Eligibility Program. When dozens of schools didn’t qualify, The Miami Herald reported that the “Food and Nutrition Services department applied for a federal U.S. Department of Agriculture pilot program to provide the remaining schools with free lunch.” The universal food programs continuation has been described as an effort to get their funds to the appropriate federal level. Now that it has, the free lunch program is officially over. Mary Mulder delivered the news to the school board at their May 13th, 2025 meeting.
Students who receive benefits like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or who are enrolled in programs like Headstart, Homeless, or Migrant, are automatically going to receive free lunch. Other students will have to apply via www.myschoolapps.com on July 14th, 2025 to determine their eligibility. With lunch prices increasing for all grade levels by a dollar, ensuring that all guardians are aware of this change is highly important.
According to United for Alice, 50% of Broward-County residents live below the ALICE Threshold. ALICE is defined as “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – earning above the Federal Poverty Level yet struggling to afford basic expenses.” If parents are struggling, so are our students. Although free breakfast for all students will continue, more has to be done to meet the needs of students in the face of rising costs and stagnant wages.
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