Austin ISD will provide free breakfast and lunch to every student at 69 campuses during the 2026-27 school year through the federally funded Community Eligibility Provision program, the district announced Aug. 7.
Students at non-CEP campuses will also see a change: those approved for reduced-price meals will now get both breakfast and lunch at no cost, thanks to state funding from the Texas Legislature.
The details
The CEP allows schools in qualifying low-income areas to serve free meals to all enrolled students, with no applications or paperwork required, according to the program website. The 69 participating campuses span Austin ISD's pre-K centers, elementary, middle and high schools, along with several alternative and child development campuses, per the Aug. 7 release.
At schools not in the CEP program, meal costs still depend on a student's status—free, reduced-price or paid. Paid breakfast runs $1.90 at elementary schools and $2.15 at middle and high schools, while lunch costs $3.40 at elementary schools and $3.65 at middle and high schools, according to the district website. Students approved for reduced-price meals will get both meals free.
What parents should know
In accordance with Texas Department of Agriculture guidelines, families can qualify a few ways: through direct certification via state-funded benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programs; through enrollment in foster care, migrant, homeless or runaway programs, or Head Start; or by completing an application on the district website or on paper at their child's school.
Students can charge up to five breakfast and five lunch meals if their account runs low, and AISD said it will notify families by letter, email or text when a balance dips. Once that charge limit is reached, students will still receive a courtesy meal at lunch, with no cap on how many they can get, per the district.
Families who believe they qualify for free or reduced-price meals but haven't been notified or who want to decline benefits can contact Austin ISD Food Service. Meal benefit applications can be submitted anytime during the school year at www.SchoolCafe.com/AustinISD.
