SNAP Cuts Put Free School Meals at Risk for 1 Million Children
Updated
Updated · KFGO · Sep 2
SNAP Cuts Put Free School Meals at Risk for 1 Million Children
3 articles · Updated · KFGO · Sep 2
Summary
More than 1 million children who lost SNAP after last year’s federal law now face possible loss of free school breakfast and lunch as the new term begins.
Schools can lose meal funding even for students who never used SNAP because direct certification and universal free-meal reimbursements are tied to SNAP and Medicaid participation.
Federal data show 5.6 million people lost SNAP between May 2025 and May 2026, a 13.5% drop, raising the risk that mixed-income districts will no longer qualify for universal free meals.
Miami-Dade has already ended free meals at more than 500 schools systemwide except 121 campuses, while Kentucky’s Marion County says its full reimbursement rate could fall from 93% of students to 75%.
Nine states still fund free meals for all students, but even they could face higher costs as grocery inflation rises and federal reimbursements shrink.