Miami-Dade families face the return of school lunch bills again.
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For many Miami-Dade families, the new school year is bringing back a familiar expense: school lunch.
For the past four years, Miami-Dade County Public Schools has offered free breakfast and lunch to every student through the federal Community Eligibility Provision. When the District introduced universal free meals in 2022, Florida Politics reported on the move.
This school year, the arrangement has changed. Miami-Dade no longer qualifies to participate in the federal program across the entire District.
Instead, 121 schools will continue offering free breakfast and lunch to all students. Another 218 schools are outside the universal program. At those schools, families who do not qualify for assistance will once again pay for lunch.
Children who are directly certified through programs including SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid will continue to receive free meals. Other families can apply.
Students who do not qualify will eventually pay $4.20 for lunch. Middle and high school students will pay $2.50 for breakfast, while breakfast remains free for elementary and K-8 students.
There is a 30-day grace period at the beginning of the school year, during which students at schools outside the universal program can still eat free while families submit applications and eligibility is determined.
Miami-Dade is hardly alone in deciding how much of the school lunch bill should be covered by parents. Across the Atlantic, the answers vary considerably.
Finland sits at one end of the spectrum. Every student from pre-primary through upper secondary education is entitled to a free school meal. The nationwide system dates to 1948, when postwar poverty and malnutrition were still serious concerns.
France provides a more colorful reminder of how long school food has been part of European education. In the difficult years after World War II, school canteens already played an important role — although some of their customs would be unimaginable today. French children could still be served wine diluted with water, sometimes known as eau rougie. France did not prohibit alcohol in schools for children under 14 until 1956. Older students could continue to receive small quantities of diluted wine, beer or cider with parental approval.
The food survived. The wine eventually did not.
England today uses a system closer to the middle. Children in reception and the first two school years receive free meals regardless of family income. Beginning this school year, eligibility is also expanding to all children living in households that receive Universal Credit, Britain’s main means-tested welfare benefit.
There is no common European rule. Depending on the country, region or municipality, lunch can be free for everyone, subsidized or paid for by parents.
Miami-Dade has moved between those models unusually quickly. In 2022, more than 300,000 students started the school year with breakfast and lunch covered.
Four years later, universal free lunch remains at 121 schools. At 218 others, whether there is a bill depends on the family — and for those who do not qualify for assistance, lunch now costs $4.20.
The post Back to school, back to paying for lunch in Miami-Dade appeared first on Florida Politics – Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government..
