Federal SNAP Cuts Threaten Free School Meals for Hundreds of Thousands

Federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under the 2025 congressional budget resolution have reduced the number of families automatically certified for free school meals, according to reports. Starting October 1, states will be responsible for 75% of SNAP administrative costs, up from the current 50%, which could shrink the pool of families eligible for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

The CEP allows schools in low‑income areas to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost without requiring household applications, but the new SNAP changes mean that families who previously qualified may now need to reapply. This shift could lead to a drop in the Identified Student Percentage (ISP), the metric that determines a district’s eligibility for CEP reimbursement. If ISP falls too low, schools may find the program financially unsustainable and could lose the ability to provide free meals to students.

In West Virginia, nearly 183,000 students could be at risk of losing CEP. Teachers and administrators are preparing for the possibility by monitoring ISP numbers, training staff to handle individual applications, and planning outreach to parents. In Maryland, a principal noted that the paperwork required for families to apply is onerous, potentially discouraging parents from completing it and leaving some children without free meals.