Free school meal options to continue

Delaware K-12 schools will have the option to continue offering free nutritious school meals during the 2021-22 school year, the Delaware Department of Education announced. The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food & Nutrition Services released a group of waivers and eligibility guidelines allowing schools to offer meals without determining eligibility based on the students’ household income.

Participating schools can operate under the Seamless Summer Option and will receive a higher federal reimbursement rate per meal.

Schools that elect not to serve free meals through the SSO will determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program using federal income guidelines. The annually updated income eligibility guidelines for the 2021-22 school year have been released by the USDA and went into effect July 1.

To apply, households already receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families need only include the SNAP or TANF case number on their application if not notified of their automatic eligibility by the school. Households enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals and should complete a Household Meal Benefit Application. Households should contact the school nutrition program of the district or school where their students attend for further information.