MADISON, Wis. — Income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced meals at schools and day cares have been changed in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI).

Now, students in four-person households bringing in $39,000 or less per year, qualify for free school meals. Children in households bringing in $39,000.01 to $55,500 a year, qualify for reduced-price meals.

This applied to free and reduced-price meals offered to students through the National School Lunch of School Breakfast programs, as well as the Special Milk Program, which provides students with milk. This also applies to “reimbursement for meals served in day care centers and family child care homes participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service updated these guidelines based on federal poverty levels. The guidelines are updated annually and went into effect July 1. They will remain in place through June 30, 2024.

“The goal of both school-based and child care food programs is to improve the health of students and young children and increase the opportunity for them to eat a variety of nutritious foods,” Wisconsin DPI said.

Foods provided through the programs meets nutritional standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Public schools, private schools and day care centers that participate in the program normally provide applications for free or discounted meals during registration and the beginning of the school year. However, Wisconsin DPI said applications can be submitted at any time of year. Each household only needs to submit one application. All students who attend schools that participate in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast programs are eligible to apply. Application information is kept confidential.

Additionally, most day cares and all family childcare homes in the Child and Adult Care Food Program provide meals to enrolled participants at no additional cost. Find a list of participants, here. 

“Reimbursement to the center or child care home for meals is based on household incomes of those enrolled for care,” Wisconsin DPI explained.

Some groups are automatically eligible for meal benefits, including children and adults in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or FoodShare in Wisconsin, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Wisconsin Works (W-2) Cash Assistance in Wisconsin; some programs under Medicaid, and Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are also eligible.

Children in foster care, who are homeless, who are migrants or who are runaways, are eligible for free or discounted meals. Kids in Head Start, an At-Risk after-school center or emergency shelter are also eligible. Adults who are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or participate in Medicaid quality as well.