Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro serves lunch to students at Fort Washington Elementary School in Montgomery County. Photo: John Cole / The Center Square

(The Center Square) – New eligibility guidelines are now in effect for free and reduced school meals for the 2026-2027 school year.

On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Education announced the recently released federal income eligibility guidelines from the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, for free and reduced-price school meals and free milk for July 2026 through June 2027.

These guidelines are used by schools, and other institutions and facilities to determine eligibility for the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program for Children, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program.

“Providing children access to nutritious food during the school day is a critical component of health and well-being, and no families should face barriers to obtaining affordable meals,” said Pennsylvania Secretary of Education Carrie Rowe. “Offering free and reduced-price meals in schools helps students focus on learning instead of hunger, and we encourage all eligible families to apply for assistance.”

Households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, need only to include the SNAP or TANF case number on the application to apply. Those enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, WIC, or Medicaid may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals based on income and should complete a Household Meal Benefit Application.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Education recommended using the state’s COMPASS website to find out more information.

The annual income eligibility guidelines break it down by household size for those who are either eligible for free meals or reduced price meals.

Pennsylvania has provided universal free breakfast for K-12 public school students since Gov. Josh Shapiro signed it into law in Aug. 2023 as part of the state budget. It continued a program that was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide free breakfast and lunch for students, although Pennsylvania has yet to implement the latter on its own.