Broward Schools to end universal free lunch program

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.