The National School Lunch Program
How can my child get free- or reduced-price school lunch in D.C.?
The School Lunch section (pdf) D.C. Hunger Solutions' How To Get Food in the District of Columbia: Food and Nutrition Resource Guide Guide can help you find out if you're child is eligible and give you information on how to apply. You can also find information on what is served to students for lunch, why you should fill out a school meals application form. The Guide is for anyone who would like to sign up for, or find out more information on, federal food programs.
How can a school start participating in the National School Lunch Program?
The National School Lunch Program section (pdf) of D.C. Hunger Solutions' Get the Facts: A Resource Guide for the Federal Nutrition Programs provides extensive information on reimbursement and funding, how the program works, what schools and institutions can participate, what students qualify for free and reduced price lunch, benefits to students, and tips on collecting school meal applications. The Guide is for social service providers, afterschool programs, schools, shelters, health clinics, faith-based organization, child development centers, food banks, and others.
D.C. School Lunch Participation Data
During the 2006-2007 school year:
- An average of 41,580 children a day in 218 schools participated in school lunch.
- D.C. Public Schools received $14,071,9977 in reimbursements for the National School Lunch Program.
Additional Resources:
USDA's National School Lunch Program Web site section.
National School Lunch Program advocacy and program information on the Food Research and Action Center's Web site.
