The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has rolled out the latest guidelines for determining who's eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals at North Carolina schools for the 2025-2026 academic year, as reported by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. These guidelines are part of the Federally-assisted School Nutrition Programs, aimed to ensure all students are served nutritious and appealing meals during school hours.
With the intent to address nutrition inequity and improve academic outcomes, the USDA has designed these eligibility requirements to ensure children from families with income at or below specified levels can readily access these meals. "Research indicates that students who eat school meals have improved school attendance, better focus in class, increased test scores, and healthier overall diets," said State Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green, in a statement published on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's website.
Automatic eligibility for free lunches is granted to children in families already receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or Cash Assistance. SNAP, formerly known as “Food Stamps,” operates under the moniker "Food and Nutrition Services" in North Carolina, while the CA program is previously known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). Criteria for determining eligibility include household size and income, and foster children under government care qualify regardless of their household's income, as per the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
To apply, families must fill out and return the free or reduced-price meal application to their school or school district's School Nutrition Office. Households receiving SNAP or CA benefits can to bypass this step, as they are automatically certified via direct certification. Applications must be signed by an adult household member, detail income sources, and provide the last four digits of the signing adult's social security number—or a declaration that a social security number is not available. "Applications for free and reduced priced meal benefits are subject to verification of income at any time during the school year by program officials," a requirement stated in the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction announcement.
Eligibility is reviewed by the School Nutrition Administrator, with a protocol in place for parents or guardians to dispute decisions informally or through a formal appeal for a hearing. Moreover, the system allows households experiencing a change, such as unemployment or a shift in household size, to contact the school to reassess their eligibility, potentially opening up access to meal benefits in light of new financial circumstances.
