School Meal Participation Rose 8.0% For School Breakfasts & 6.8% For Lunches Between 2023 & 2024

The number of elementary and secondary students participating in school breakfast programs increased by 8.0%, and student lunch participation grew by 6.8% between the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years, according to an analysis by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC). Approximately 900,000 more children were participating in school breakfasts, and 1.3 million more children were participating in school lunches. Participation is defined as either a student’s family paying for lunch or completing an application for free or reduced price student meals, or attending a school that offers free meals to all students . . .