For the first time in years, not all students in Broward County Public Schools will receive free lunch, as the district’s universal free meal program comes to an end this fall.
According to the Miami Herald, the announcement was made at a school board meeting on Tuesday, where officials confirmed that the federal surplus funds used to cover all students’ lunches have finally run out.
The free meals were part of a broader federal initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed schools nationwide to serve free lunch to all students through waivers and temporary funding. Though those waivers expired in 2022, Broward extended its program using leftover funds and through programs like the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which supports schools with high numbers of low-income students.
To ensure no funds were forfeited due to federal caps on reserves, Broward’s Food and Nutrition Services department deliberately continued the universal lunch policy to draw down its COVID-era surplus. “We utilized the strategy of feeding all students to deplete [the fund balance] back to the levels that are appropriate,” said Mary Mulder, executive director of Food and Nutrition Services.
That funding, however, is now exhausted. As a result, students at schools not qualifying for CEP will need to pay for lunch starting next school year. And not only is the universal free lunch ending, but prices are also going up. The school board voted Tuesday to raise meal prices by $1 across the board: elementary school lunches will cost $3, middle school $3.35, and high school $3.50. It’s the district’s first price hike in 12 years.
Food and Nutrition Services operates independently of the district’s general fund, meaning the rising cost of food, labor, and supplies must be covered by meal revenue. Parents who need assistance can begin applying for free or reduced-price lunches on July 14 at www.myschoolapps.com. Breakfast, however, will remain free for all students.
“It’s vitally important that we have these robust conversations now so there’s no confusion,” said board member Lori Alhadeff. Fellow board member Rebecca Thompson expressed hope that the district could revisit universal lunch access in the future, citing ongoing economic challenges faced by families.
“If there is a way that we can explore this and help families, then we should do that,” Thompson urged. The board is expected to discuss the possibility at a future workshop.
This is just one of the tough decisions that Broward Schools has to make due to its budget crisis. School closures, consolidations, and job cuts are also being planned.
