Miami-Dade students face new lunch fees as district ends universal free meal program
Key Points(5)
- Most Miami-Dade students will now pay $4.20 per day for lunch, and prices are up in Broward, too.
- For the first time since the pandemic, Miami-Dade students will have to pay for lunch daily: $4.20 per person.
- And in Broward, lunch prices are $4 for elementary students, $4.35 for middle school students, and $4.50 for high school students.
- Now, Miami-Dade will have a 30-day grace period where lunch will be free for all students.
- And in both counties, families can apply for free or reduced lunch.
Most Miami-Dade County Public Schools students will have to pay for lunch this school year for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, with full-price meals costing $4.20 per day at schools that do not qualify for universal free meals.
The change follows the end of the district's four-year participation in the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allowed all students to receive free breakfast and lunch regardless of household income.
Based on updated federal eligibility data, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) no longer qualifies to offer free meals to all students districtwide. However, 121 schools will continue providing free breakfast and lunch to every student through the CEP program.
Students attending schools that do not qualify for free meals will be able to apply for free or reduced-price meals through the federal program. Applications open Aug. 10 through the district’s nutrition website.
"We’re launching a comprehensive outreach campaign to ensure families have clear, step-by-step guidance," said Luis E. Diaz, chief operations officer for Miami-Dade County Public Schools. "Our goal is to protect families from any hardship while keeping free breakfast and lunch available to as many students as possible."
Under the new pricing structure, students at non-CEP schools will receive free breakfast, while full-price lunch will cost $4.20 and reduced-price lunch will cost 40 cents.
For middle and high school students at non-CEP schools, breakfast will cost $2.50 for full-price meals and 30 cents for reduced-price meals. Lunch will cost $4.20 for full-price meals and 40 cents for reduced-price meals.
To ease the transition, all Miami-Dade students will receive free meals during the first 30 days of the school year or until their new eligibility status is determined.
Students who are automatically eligible through programs such as SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, foster care, Head Start, migrant services or homeless assistance will continue receiving free meals without needing to submit an application.
Meanwhile, Broward County Public Schools has also increased lunch prices. Elementary school students will pay $4 per meal, while middle school students will pay $4.35 and high school students will pay $4.50.
Families in both districts are encouraged to apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits as early as possible to avoid interruptions in service.
School officials said meals provided through district nutrition programs are designed to support student health, wellness and academic achievement while helping families access available resources.
