Jasper City, Walker County Schools Announce Free Meals for 2025-26

For the 2025-26 school year, several school districts are implementing or continuing programs to provide free or reduced-price meals to students as part of efforts to combat child hunger and support low-income families. Jasper City and Walker County Schools are participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which offers free breakfast and lunch to all students without the need for meal applications. In Colorado, despite many schools offering free meals under the Healthy School Meals for All program, families are still encouraged to complete income applications to determine eligibility and unlock additional funding for schools. Meanwhile, in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the free summer meals program faces uncertainty due to proposed federal budget cuts that could impact funding. Connecticut recently ended a temporary program that provided free meals to students eligible for reduced-price lunch, prompting concerns about the financial burden on families and advocacy for universal free meals. These initiatives highlight the ongoing challenges and policy debates surrounding child nutrition programs across different states.