Income Guidelines for School Nutrition Programs

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The income guidelines below determine students' eligibility for free and reduced-price meals in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) of the NSLP, and Seamless Summer Option (SSO) of the NSLP, and free milk in the Special Milk Program (SMP).

Current Year

• Income Guidelines for Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced-price School Meals or Free Milk and S-EBT School Year 2026-27 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)

Previous Years

• Income Eligibility Guidelines (USDA webpage)

Guidance

• Child Nutrition Programs: Income Eligibility Guidelines (2026-2027) (USDA webpage)
• Eligibility for Free and Reduced-price Meals and Free Milk in School Nutrition Programs (CSDE webpage)
• Eligibility Manual for School Meals (USDA)
• USDA Memo SP 06-2010, CACFP 03-2010, and SFSP 04-2010-Revised: Exclusion of Military Combat Pay