Extension of Universal Free School Meals: 

With the signing of the FY23 state budget, Massachusetts has become the fifth state to provide state support to extend universal free meals beyond Congress’ expiration date of June 30, 2022. The new state funds will be used to supplement federal USDA reimbursements, allowing for National School Lunch Program meals to be provided to all students at no charge and to be reimbursed at the federal “free” rate during the 2022-23 school year.
 
However, it is still important that districts participate in direct certification of eligible families and for families to fill out income eligibility forms, because income eligibility numbers will be important in meal reimbursements to districts and for other benefits to families. (For instance, households that establish that their income qualifies them for free or reduced-price meals by August 31, 2022 will qualify for summer 2022 Pandemic EBT.)
 
On Tuesday, August 2, DESE’s Office for Food and Nutrition will provide initial guidance in its August newsletter. Additionally, Project Bread’s Child Nutrition Outreach Program has created resources to help school districts tell families about the extension of free school meals in Massachusetts. These resources include template language for a letter to families and for a robocall or robotext, and a social media toolkit.