School Meal Update

Important School Meal Update for the 2026-2027 School Year

As we prepare for the start of the 2026-2027 school year, we’d like to remind families of information shared at the end of last school year regarding school meals and provide additional clarification.

Due to the Covid pandemic, federal funding was provided to school systems throughout the nation to provide free meals for two years (2020-2022). Then, for the next four years (2022-2026), SCPPS was able to provide meals at no cost to all students through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) due to impacts from Hurricane Ida.

Beginning this school year, SCPPS is returning to the traditional Free and Reduced Meal Application Process. As a result, free breakfast and lunch will no longer be automatically available to all students. However, free meals have not ended in St. Charles Parish Public Schools. Students who meet USDA income eligibility guidelines will continue to receive free or reduced-price meals after completing the Free and Reduced Meal Application at www.myschoolapps.com.

Families are encouraged to complete the application as soon as possible so benefits are available when school begins. 

For students who do not meet the USDA eligibility guidelines, breakfast and lunch may be purchased through the traditional meal program. While these families pay between $2.00 and $2.35 for a student lunch, it costs approximately $5.30 to prepare and serve each meal. SCPPS continues to invest local funds to cover more than half of the cost of a student lunch, helping to keep school meals affordable for families.

2026-2027 Meal Pricing

Meal	Elementary	Middle	High School
Breakfast	$1.60	$1.65	$1.65
Lunch	$2.00	$2.15	$2.35

Families may pay for meals online at www.myschoolbucks.com or by sending payment to their child's school.

St. Charles Parish Public Schools is committed to making sure every student has access to meals while also helping families receive any benefits for which they qualify. Our staff will work closely with families to assist them through the application process and connect them with available resources when needed. If you have any questions, please contact the Child Nutrition Department at 985-785-3179.