This academic year, a decline in access to free school meals for children in the U.S. is anticipated due to modifications introduced by the Republican-backed tax-and-spending legislation known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), as reported by experts in food policy and public welfare.

The alterations to school meal programs are primarily linked to the restructuring of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, as mandated by the OBBBA. An analysis conducted by the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) estimates that approximately 4.5 million individuals, including 1.5 million children, have been removed from SNAP since the law’s implementation.

Loss of SNAP benefits can affect children’s access to free school meals in two significant ways. First, families receiving food stamps automatically qualify their children for free meals at school, so the removal from SNAP rolls eliminates this automatic eligibility. Secondly, a reduction in the number of children eligible for SNAP may hinder school districts from meeting the criteria for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Established by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the CEP allows schools in high-poverty areas to serve free meals to all students without requiring individual applications.

According to a 2025 study by the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, an estimated 18.3 million students in the U.S. could be at risk of losing access to free school meals. The Center for American Progress has approximated that a typical family with two school-aged children might incur an additional $2,200 in food expenses this year due to the absence of free meal programs.

In a recent announcement, the Miami-Dade School District in Florida stated it would be reducing its free meal offerings, as of July 23. The district indicated that many of its schools no longer meet the CEP qualifications, a situation exacerbated by a nearly 20% decline in SNAP enrollment in Florida since the OBBBA was enacted in July 2025, according to CBPP analysis.

“We are deeply concerned about the cascading effects. As children lose their SNAP benefits, they may also lose automatic access to free school meals the following year, even if they still qualify,” stated Katie Bergh, a SNAP specialist at the CBPP, in an interview with CBS News.

Bergh further emphasized that families losing both SNAP benefits and access to free school meals may face difficult decisions, often having to choose between purchasing groceries and covering essential expenses such as rent, medical needs, or utility bills.

To mitigate the impact of these changes, the Miami-Dade School District has implemented a temporary 30-day grace period to continue providing free lunches. According to Luis Diaz, the district’s chief operating officer, approximately 121 schools will still qualify for meals under the CEP, whereas all 400 schools in the district had offered free meals over the past four years. After this grace period, the price for lunches will increase to $4.20 per child.

“We are exploring every possible avenue to lessen the financial burden for families next year, especially since there has been no cost to them for the past four years,” Diaz informed the Miami Herald.

For students who no longer receive SNAP benefits, there remains an option to apply for free school meals through individual applications, which require parents to demonstrate that their income falls below a specific threshold. Diane Pratt-Heavner, director of media relations for the School Nutrition Association, noted that a family of four earning less than $42,900 annually qualifies for free meals. However, the application process can be cumbersome, necessitating detailed reporting of all income sources, including government assistance, which can be particularly challenging for parents juggling multiple jobs.

“Our organization advocates for universal free meals, as many children and families are overlooked by the current application process,” Pratt-Heavner remarked during her conversation with CBS News.

Indicators suggest that numerous families are already facing difficulties affording school meals. The School Nutrition Association reported that unpaid meal debts in schools had escalated to $25.3 million last year, marking a 25% increase from 2024. This reduction in free meal access coincides with a period of rising food costs, which have surged by 21% compared to January 2022, according to the CBS News Price Tracker.

While some children may experience a loss of free meal access this year, Pratt-Heavner warned that even more could be affected in 2027 and beyond. Starting in late 2027, states might encounter an additional $9 billion in food stamp expenditures due to funding adjustments mandated by the OBBBA. This financial burden could prompt some states to withdraw from SNAP entirely, as noted by Bergh from the CBPP.

Food policy experts express concern over the potential educational ramifications for children who lose access to free meals. Research indicates a correlation between free meal programs and academic success, including a 2021 study by the Brookings Institution, which found improvements in math performance in districts participating in the National School Lunch Program.

“It is essential to ensure that children are well-nourished and prepared to learn,” Pratt-Heavner stated. “We must prioritize free access to meals in schools.”