Maryland updates free, reduced-price school meal guidelines

MARYLAND ( DC News Now ) — The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) updated its guidelines regarding free and reduced-price school meals, raising the maximum income requirement.

In a news release issued Thursday, MSDE explained that eligibility is determined based on household size and income. For example, a child from a family of four qualifies for free school meals if their household’s annual income is below $40,560.

If their income is between $40,561 and $57,720, the child is eligible for reduced-price meals.

These eligibility guidelines are an increase from last year when a family of four would qualify for free meals if their household’s annual income was below $39,000, or for reduced-price meals if their income was between $39,001 and $55,500.

The department established its guidelines by multiplying the 2024 federal income poverty guidelines by 130% to determine household income levels for free meal eligibility, and by 185% for reduced-price meal eligibility.

U.S. citizenship is not a requirement to apply.

MSDE advised families to do the following when applying:

• Make sure to submit complete applications in full. Incomplete applications cannot be processed.
• Following a review, schools will notify households about their children’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. In cases where there are concerns or disagreements, parents and guardians can request clarification from school officials, appeal the decision or request a hearing with school district administrators.
• Certain groups of children, such as those enrolled in Head Start, Even Start, certified as homeless, migrant, runaway, foster children, or living in households receiving Food Supplement Program (FSP) or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) benefits, automatically qualify for free meals and do not need to submit an application.
• Parents and guardians are encouraged to reapply at any time during the school year if there are any changes in household size, employment, income, or if their household becomes eligible for FSP or TCA.

For a list of eligibility guidelines based on your household’s size, click here .

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