Community Eligibility Provision

Community eligibility is a federally funded option that allows schools with high percentages of low-income children to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students – essentially becoming Hunger-Free Schools. Not only does community eligibility increase participation in the school meal programs, it also reduces labor costs for schools, increases efficiency, reduces stigma, and increases federal revenues.

In the 2018-2019 school year, 242 Maryland schools participated in community eligibility.