National School Lunch Program

Monday, June 26, 2023

The National School Lunch Program — the nation’s second largest food and nutrition assistance program behind SNAP — makes it possible for all school children in the United States to receive a nutritious lunch every school day. The vast majority of schools participate in the program, providing meals to 30 million children on an average day.

QUICK FACTS:

Nearly 30 million children participated in the National School Lunch Program on a typical day in the 2021–2022 school year, an increase of 10.1 million children compared to the 2020–2021 school year.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia saw an increase in the total number of lunches served in the 2021–2022 school year when compared to the 2020–2021 school year, showing what is possible when school meals are offered to all students at no charge.
Any public school, nonprofit private school, or residential child care institution can participate in the program and receive federal funds for each meal served.
Meals served through the National School Lunch Program meet federal nutrition standards, which require schools to serve more whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
The program is administered at the federal level by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and in each state typically through the state department of education or agriculture.

Large School District Report: Operating School Nutrition Programs as the Nation Recovers From the Pandemic

Many large school districts across the country reported decreased participation in school breakfast and lunch when the nationwide child nutrition waiver that allowed schools to offer school meals to all of their students at no charge ended, according to FRAC’s latest report. Read Large School District Report: Operating School Nutrition Programs as the Nation Recovers From the Pandemic for more insights.

How did participation in school breakfast and lunch change pre-pandemic and during the pandemic?

Food Research & Action Center’s report, The Reach of School Breakfast and Lunch During the 2021–2022 School Year, reveals that just over 15.5 million children received a school breakfast, and 29.9 million children received a school lunch on an average day during the 2021–2022 school year — an increase of 1.6 million children in breakfast, and 10.1 million in lunch compared to the 2020–2021 school year.

Read the Report

Community Eligibility: The Key to Hunger Free Schools, School Year 2022–2023

Community Eligibility: The Key to Hunger Free Schools finds that the number of schools participating in community eligibility grew by 15.8 percent from the 2021-2022 school year, with 82 percent of eligible schools participating. Nearly 20 million children in 40,235 schools and 6,419 school districts are participating and have access to school breakfast and lunch at no charge.

Reducing Barriers to Consuming School Meals

Too many students miss out on the important benefits of school lunch when barriers exist that prevent students from consuming all of their meal. This report includes best practices for school districts to maximize student participation and consumption in school meals.