Who pays for free or reduced lunches?

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program that provides free and reduced-price lunches to students in public and nonprofit private schools. The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by state agencies.

To be eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, students must meet certain income guidelines. The income guidelines are based on the federal poverty guidelines and vary depending on the number of people in a household. Households with incomes at or below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for free lunches. Households with incomes between 130% and 185% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for reduced-price lunches.

The USDA reimburses schools for the cost of providing free and reduced-price lunches. The reimbursement rates are based on the type of meal served and the student's eligibility status. Schools are also reimbursed for administrative costs associated with the program.