Program Description:
The School Lunch and Breakfast program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered in Connecticut by the State Department of Education’s Bureau of Health, Nutrition, Family Services, and Adult Education.
For school year 2024-25, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) will cover the cost to families for one breakfast and one lunch per day for students who qualify for reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP). This means that schools participating in NSLP and/or SBP will not charge families for the reduced-price portion of these meals.
Who is Eligible?
How to Obtain Service: Ask at child’s school to see if the school offers this program; if so, obtain an application form from the school. Forms can be mailed to parents or sent home with the children. Parents who receive TFA or SNAP (food stamps) can put their State Assistance ID # on the form. They do not have to fill out the income section because if eligibility has been determined already for TFA or SNAP they are categorically eligible for free school meals.
Timetable: Parents/guardians can apply for free/reduced meals at any time during the school year.
SOURCES: U.S. Department of Agriculture; Connecticut Association for Human Services publication “How to Get Food in Connecticut.”
PREPARED BY: 211/tb
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: March2025