MSDE Announces Availability of the Child and Adult Care Food Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Raven Hill, 410-767-0486
[email protected]
MSDE Announces Availability of the Child and Adult Care Food Program
BALTIMORE (September 22, 2026) – Today, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) announced the updated income eligibility guidelines for participation in free and reduced-price meals through the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). The program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and administered by MSDE.
The program provides nutritious meals and snacks for qualifying participants attending local child care centers, adult day care facilities, and family childcare homes at no charge.
Reimbursement amounts for meals and snacks are determined based on information submitted by households on a CACFP Meal Benefit Application.
Eligibility for free meals extends to foster children, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) recipients, or enrolled in Head Start. Adult day care participants who are members of SNAP households or who receive Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid are also eligible for free meals.
The full chart of income thresholds by household size is available below. For information about CACFP and participating Maryland agencies, contact the MSDE Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs at 410-767-0219.
Income Eligibility Guidelines
Effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027
Free Meals
| Household Size | Yearly | Monthly | Twice / Month | Every 2 Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
$20,748 |
$1,729 |
$865 |
$798 |
$399 |
| 2 |
$28,132 |
$2,345 |
$1,173 |
$1,082 |
$541 |
| 3 |
$35,516 |
$2,960 |
$1,480 |
$1,366 |
$683 |
| 4 |
$42,900 |
$3,575 |
$1,788 |
$1,650 |
$825 |
| 5 |
$50,284 |
$4,191 |
$2,096 |
$1,934 |
$967 |
| 6 |
$57,668 |
$4,806 |
$2,403 |
$2,218 |
$1,109 |
| 7 |
$65,052 |
$5,421 |
$2,711 |
$2,502 |
$1,251 |
| 8 |
$72,436 |
$6,037 |
$3,019 |
$2,786 |
$1,393 |
| For each additional family member, add… |
$7,384 |
$616 |
$308 |
$284 |
$142 |
Reduced-Price Meals
| Household Size | Yearly | Monthly | Twice / Month | Every 2 Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
$29,526 |
$2,461 |
$1,231 |
$1,136 |
$568 |
| 2 |
$40,034 |
$3,337 |
$1,669 |
$1,540 |
$770 |
| 3 |
$50,542 |
$4,212 |
$2,106 |
$1,944 |
$972 |
| 4 |
$61,050 |
$5,088 |
$2,544 |
$2,349 |
$1,175 |
| 5 |
$71,558 |
$5,964 |
$2,982 |
$2,753 |
$1,377 |
| 6 |
$82,066 |
$6,839 |
$3,420 |
$3,157 |
$1,579 |
| 7 |
$92,574 |
$7,715 |
$3,858 |
$3,561 |
$1,781 |
| 8 |
$103,082 |
$8,591 |
$4,296 |
$3,965 |
$1,983 |
| For each additional family member, add… |
$10,508 |
$876 |
$438 |
$405 |
$203 |
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