JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Dozens of Duval County Public Schools will no longer offer free lunches for a majority of students beginning next year.

DCPS officials announced Wednesday that 37 schools will not offer free lunch meals through the Community Eligibility Provision beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. 

Instead, families attending the affected schools will need to apply for free or reduced-price meals for meal assistance or be directly certified through the state.

The 37 Duval County schools that will be impacted do not meet the criteria for the CEP, which is a federal program that allows schools to offer free meals to all students. 

1. Alden Road Exceptional Student Center
2. Alimacani Elementary
3. Anchor Academy Elementary
4. Atlantic Beach Elementary
5. Atlantic Coast High
6. Baldwin Jr/Sr
7. Bartram Springs Elementary
8. Chets Creek Elementary
9. Darnell Cookman Jr/Sr
10. Douglas Anderson High
11. Fishweir Elementary
12. Fletcher High
13. Fletcher Middle
14. Greenland Pines Elementary
15. Hendricks Avenue Elementary
16. J Allen Axson Elementary
17. Jacksonville Beach Elementary
18. James Weldon Johnson Middle
19. John Stockton Elementary
20. Julia Landon Middle
21. Lavilla Middle
22. Loretto Elementary
23. Louis Sheffield Elementary
24. Mandarin High
25. Mandarin Middle
26. Mandarin Oaks Elementary
27. Mayport Elementary
28. Mayport Middle
29. Neptune Beach Elementary
30. New Berlin Elementary
31. Paxon High
32. Sabal Palm Elementary
33. Samuel W Wolfson High
34. San Pablo Elementary
35. Sandalwood High
36. Seabreeze Elementary
37. Stanton

District officials said in order to qualify for the program, 40% of enrolled students must be eligible for free or reduced-price meals through government programs, like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, or Medicaid.

District officials said the change comes after a “careful review” of the budget for the upcoming school year.

“Since March 2020, we’ve been able to offer free meals to all students districtwide thanks to federal pandemic relief funding,” DCPS officials said in a message to parents Wednesday. “However, that funding has ended, and continuing the program without it is no longer financially sustainable.”

Officials noted that the change will only impact lunch meals, and breakfast will continue to be available at no cost to all students at all schools, through the Universal Free Breakfast Program.

“While this is a necessary step for the district, we understand it may create challenges for some families,” the message continued. “Our goal is to provide you with the information and support you need to be prepared for the 2025-26 school year.”

Some Duval County parents say they’re disappointed and concerned after the school district made this announcement.

Mandy Rubin, a parent at San Pablo Elementary, said she was saddened but not surprised by the decision, which follows the expiration of federal COVID-19 relief funds that made free meals available to all students since 2020.

“It’s such a loss for the families in our district,” Rubin said. “No one had to fill out any paperwork. Every student got access to free breakfast and lunch. It’s another barrier for families already overwhelmed.”

Rubin says about 29% of students at San Pablo Elementary used the free lunch program last year. She worries some families may fall through the cracks if they miss deadlines or don’t complete the required forms.

“A hungry stomach does not equal a great education,” she said.

Rubin encourages parents to stay informed about deadlines and to contact their local representatives.

“This is a policy choice to take food out of kids’ mouths,” she said.

• To receive assistance with the cost of school lunch, parents will need to apply for free or reduced-price meals.
• The application will be available online the first week of August.
• All students will continue to receive lunch at no cost for the first 30 operating days of the school year, or until a new meal eligibility status determination is made. Meal eligibility is established through the processing of a Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application or Direct Certification.
• If students receive benefits such as SNAP, TANF or Medicaid, they will be automatically approved for free or reduced-price meals by Direct Certification.

Parents don’t need to take action if their student does not attend an impacted school. Lunch will continue to be provided at no cost to all students at the school.