Prairie State Wire

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has released the federal eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals for the 2024-25 school year. These programs, including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and After-School Care Program, are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by ISBE.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tony Sanders emphasized the importance of these programs: “Ensuring that every child has access to nutritious meals is fundamental to their growth, learning, and overall well-being.” He added that such programs support families and help students focus and succeed in school.

In March 2024, participating schools served about 180 million free or reduced-price meals during the previous school year. Approximately half of Illinois school districts participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), allowing high-poverty schools to offer free meals without household applications. Last year, 430 districts participated in CEP, providing nearly 900,000 students with free meals.

All districts offering federally funded Child Nutrition Programs must provide nutritious meals following a specific meal pattern based on scientific evidence from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This pattern includes milk; fruits; vegetables; grains; and meat or meat alternates like cheese or nuts.

Income guidelines determining eligibility for these meal programs take effect at the start of fiscal year 2025 on July 1, 2024. The USDA adjusts these annually according to federal poverty guidelines.

The non-discrimination statement outlines that this institution cannot discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Alternative communication methods are available for those with disabilities seeking program information.

To file a discrimination complaint regarding these programs, individuals can complete Form AD-3027 or write a detailed letter describing any alleged discriminatory action to be submitted via mail to USDA's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in Washington D.C., faxed to specified numbers or emailed to program.intake@usda.gov​.