According to a report by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) increased by almost 19% during the 2023-24 school year as half of all National School Lunch Program (NSLP) schools now use the provision that lets low-income schools serve free meals to all students. In fact, 47,766 schools from 7,717 schools districts opted into the federal program for 2023-24, resulting in upwards of 23 million students in high-poverty schools access to free breakfasts and lunches.

In 2023, the (U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) lowered the minimum threshold for low-income schools and school districts to qualify for the federal reimbursement program. Previously, 40% of students enrolled in a school had to be certified as eligible for free school meals, but that threshold is now 25%.

With the change in administration, it is unknown what the fate of the program will be since President-elect Trump has not signaled his position on the CEP, but Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation policy blueprint developed by former Trump administration officials, has called for the program’s elimination. The policy agenda also proposed that the USDA work with lawmakers to reject any efforts to support universal school meal programs.

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