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School Meals, Summer Meals and Summer EBT: A Parent's Guide

By FoodBankLocator Editorial Team · Published · Last reviewed

Food help for children comes in several programs that run at different times of year. During the school year, children can eat breakfast and lunch at school. In the summer, they may be able to eat at a meal site or receive grocery benefits on a card. This guide explains the school meal programs, the Summer Food Service Program, and Summer EBT, based on USDA's pages. Availability and application steps vary by state, school district and community, so the guide ends with how to find out what applies to your family.

School meals during the school year

National School Lunch Program

USDA describes the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) as a federally assisted meal program in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Truman in 1946.

School Breakfast Program

The School Breakfast Program (SBP) provides reimbursement to states to operate nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential child care institutions. USDA says state education agencies administer it at the state level, and local school food authorities operate it in schools. Your school district's food service office is the place to ask whether a school offers breakfast and how it works.

Free and reduced-price meals

Whether a child gets school meals free, at a reduced price, or at full price depends on household income. USDA publishes Income Eligibility Guidelines every year, and says they are effective from July 1 through June 30. The guidelines are used by schools and institutions in the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program for Children, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program. The current set covers school year 2026 to 2027, and the table is on USDA's Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines page. This guide does not reprint the table, because it is long and changes each year.

To ask for free or reduced-price meals, contact your child's school or district. The school can tell you how to apply.

Summer meals

Summer Food Service Program

USDA says that through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), kids aged 18 and under can get free meals and snacks during the summer at schools, parks and other neighborhood locations in eligible areas. USDA notes SFSP may have a different name where you live, but the benefit is the same. In some rural areas, USDA says, kids can get summer meals to-go.

To find a site, USDA's Summer Meals for Kids Site Finder gives directions to nearby meal sites, their hours of operation and their contact information.

Summer EBT

Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (Summer EBT) is a separate program. USDA says it provides $120 in grocery benefits per eligible school-age child when school is out for summer. Benefits can be used to buy food from authorized retailers in participating states, Tribes and territories. USDA notes that Summer EBT may be known by a different name in your location.

Not every state takes part. USDA says to check its interactive map to see which states, territories and Tribal Nations offer Summer EBT, and to learn how to apply where you live.

Who is eligible. According to USDA, a child is eligible if they are school-age and the household already participates in benefits like SNAP, FDPIR or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or if the child attends a school that offers the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program and the household income meets the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals. In participating places, children whose families get SNAP, TANF, FDPIR or certain other income-based benefits are enrolled automatically, USDA says. Children who attend a school that offers NSLP or SBP and whose household income qualifies them for free or reduced-price meals may also be enrolled automatically.

If you are not enrolled automatically. A child may still be eligible. USDA says to apply directly to the agency that runs Summer EBT in your state, Tribe or territory. You will be asked for information such as your child's name and date of birth, school, home address and household income.

How the benefit arrives. Once a child is enrolled, USDA says Summer EBT may be added to the household's SNAP account, issued on a separate EBT card, or sent in other ways, depending on where you live.

Where you can use it. USDA says many grocery stores, farmers markets, convenience stores and online retailers accept Summer EBT, often the same places that accept SNAP and WIC. You can use the USDA SNAP Retailer Locator to find stores. Our county pages list SNAP-authorized retailers from the same data.

What to do now

  1. Check what your state offers. Use USDA's Summer EBT map and your state agency. If you already receive SNAP, your state agency may be the one to ask. Find its contact on our state application guide.
  2. Contact your school district about breakfast, lunch, and free or reduced-price meal applications.
  3. Find a summer meal site with USDA's Site Finder if your area has one.
  4. Fill gaps with other help. Feeding America says many food banks run School Pantry Programs, where parents can pick up food at their child's school, and BackPack Programs that give children food to take home for the weekend. Ask your regional food bank whether it offers them. See the first pantry visit guide.
  5. If you have a child under 5, read about WIC.

Sources

Last reviewed: October 18, 2026.