Skip to Main Content

NEW GUIDELINES ANNOUNCED FOR FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE SCHOOL MEALS

     CONTACT:  Samantha Bader, 410-767-0513/Lora Rakowski, 443-797-9883                              


BALTIMORE –
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has announced revised Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) for free and reduced-price school meals. The guidelines are set by the federal government and adopted by MSDE. The IEGs are used to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meals in child nutrition programs for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) annual adjustments to the IEGs are required by Section 9 of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act. The guidelines are intended to directly benefit those children most in need and are revised annually to account for changes in the Consumer Price Index. The IEGs were established by multiplying the 2020 federal income poverty guidelines by 130 percent to determine the household income levels for free meal eligibility and by 185 percent for the reduced-price meal eligibility income levels. The income levels are rounded upward to the next whole dollar.

Household size and income is the most common way to determine eligibility. For example, a child from a family of four is eligible for free school meals if the household’s current annual income is below $34,060. If the family’s annual income is between $34,061 and $48,470, the child is eligible for reduced-price meals.

Meal Benefit Applications will be available at the beginning of the school year. Parents and guardians should complete applications in their entirety and submit it to the school; schools cannot approve incomplete applications. United States citizenship is not required to be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Schools will inform households whether children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Parents and guardians may speak with school officials concerning disagreement with the school’s decision or appeal the decision and request a hearing with the school district’s administrators.

Children enrolled in Head Start, Even Start, certified as homeless, migrant, runaway, foster, or children living in households that receive Food Supplement Program (FSP) or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) benefits are eligible for free meals and do not need to fill out an application. Some FSP and TCA households will receive a letter from the school informing them that children in the household are eligible for free meals.

FSP and TCA households that do not receive a letter by the beginning of the school year should fill out an application. Other children who may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals include children in households participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Parents and guardians of these children should complete an application.

Parents and guardians may reapply at any time during the school year and are encouraged to do so if the household size increases, parents and guardians become unemployed, income decreases, or the household qualifies for FSP or TCA.

School Meals includes: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, After-School Care Snack component, and Special Milk Program. The School Meals programs are administered in Maryland by the MSDE, and must meet nutrition requirements set by the USDA. Visit www.eatsmartmaryland.org for additional information regarding the Child Nutrition Programs operating in Maryland.

Individuals who want more information concerning schools or facilities that participate in one of the Child Nutrition Programs should contact a Program Specialist at 410-767-0219.

Income Eligibility Guidelines
(Effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021)

Household Size Free Meals Reduced Price Meals
  Yearly Monthly Twice per month Every Two

Weeks

Weekly Yearly Monthly Twice per month Every Two Weeks Weekly
1 $16,588 $1,383 $692 $638 $319 $23,606 $1,968 $984 $908 $454
2 22,412 1,868 934 862 431 31,894 2,658 1,329 1,227 614
3 28,236 2,353 1,177 1,086 543 40,182 3,349 1,675 1,546 773
4 34,060 2,839 1,420 1,310 655 48,470 4,040 2,020 1,865 933
5 39,884 3,324 1,662 1,534 767 56,758 4,730 2,365 2,183 1,092
6 45,708 3,809 1,905 1,758 879 65,046 5,421 2,711 2,502 1,251
7 51,532 4,295 2,148 1,982 991 73,334 6,112 3,056 2,821 1,411
8 57,356 4,780 2,390 2,206 1,103 81,622 6,802 3,401 3,140 1,570
For each additional family member add $5,824 $486 $243 $224 $112 $8,288 $691 $346 $319 $160

The Maryland State Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are equal opportunity employers and providers.

###

New Guidelines for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals PDF


doit-ewspw-W01
Close window
Close Disclaimer

Google Translate Disclaimer

The Maryland Department of Information Technology (“DoIT”) offers translations of the content through Google Translate. Because Google Translate is an external website, DoIT does not control the quality or accuracy of translated content. All DoIT content is filtered through Google Translate which may result in unexpected and unpredictable degradation of portions of text, images and the general appearance on translated pages. Google Translate may maintain unique privacy and use policies. These policies are not controlled by DoIT and are not associated with DoIT’s privacy and use policies. After selecting a translation option, users will be notified that they are leaving DoIT’s website. Users should consult the original English content on DoIT’s website if there are any questions about the translated content.

DoIT uses Google Translate to provide language translations of its content. Google Translate is a free, automated service that relies on data and technology ​​​to provide its translations. The Google Translate feature is provided for informational purposes only. Translations cannot be guaranteed as exact or without the inclusion of incorrect or inappropriate language. Google Translate is a third-party service and site users will be leaving DoIT to utilize translated content. As such, DoIT does not guarantee and does not accept responsibility for, the accuracy, reliability, or performance of this service nor the limitations provided by this service, such as the inability to translate specific files like PDFs and graphics (e.g. .jpgs, .gifs, etc.).

DoIT provides Google Translate as an online tool for its users, but DoIT does not directly endorse the website or imply that it is the only solution available to users. All site visitors may choose to use alternate tools for their translation needs. Any individuals or parties that use DoIT content in translated form, whether by Google Translate or by any other translation services, do so at their own risk. DoIT is not liable for any loss or damages arising out of, or issues related to, the use of or reliance on translated content. DoIT assumes no liability for any site visitor’s activities in connection with use of the Google Translate functionality or content.

The Google Translate service is a means by which DoIT offers translations of content and is meant solely for the convenience of non-English speaking users of the website. The translated content is provided directly and dynamically by Google; DoIT has no direct control over the translated content as it appears using this tool. Therefore, in all contexts, the English content, as directly provided by DoIT is to be held authoritative.