New Report Finds School Districts Struggling to Feed Children Amid Rising Costs
School meals are a critical tool for reducing childhood hunger and helping students learn and thrive. But a new report from the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) finds that school districts across the country are facing growing financial and operational challenges.
The Large School District Report: A Snapshot of School Meals Participation and Operations in October 2025 examines 96 large school districts. Among those surveyed, 84% reported high food costs, 81% reported increased labor costs, and 74% expressed concerns about how cuts to SNAP and Medicaid in H.R. 1 could affect school meal participation and administration.
Despite these challenges, school nutrition departments continue finding innovative ways to reach students. Many districts are using programs such as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows eligible schools to provide meals to all students at no charge, and breakfast after the bell, which makes breakfast more accessible during the school day.
The report highlights a significant gap in breakfast participation. In October 2025, participating districts served 47.8 million lunches compared with just 26.8 million breakfasts.
Districts that provide free meals to all students reported significant benefits. Among them, 96% said universal meals increased food security, 93% reported eliminating school meal debt, and 89% said the approach reduced stigma. Districts also reported benefits for household finances, academic achievement, student behavior, and administrative workloads.
At the same time, changes to SNAP could create additional challenges. When families lose SNAP eligibility, children may also lose direct certification for free school meals, potentially increasing barriers to accessing nutritious food.
FRAC is calling on Congress to strengthen school nutrition programs and expand access to free meals. Policy recommendations include passing the Universal School Meals Program Act and Feed Our Kids Act, which would help schools provide meals at no charge to all students, as well as the Healthy Meals Help Kids Learn Act, which would increase school meal reimbursements.
As schools face rising costs and changing federal nutrition policies, ensuring children have reliable access to healthy meals remains essential. Investing in school meals means investing in children’s health, academic success, and the financial stability of families.