Healthy School Meals for All Program

The Healthy School Meals for All program allows public School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to provide free meals to all students beginning School Year 2023-24. Additional components of the program available in School Year 2024-25 include funding to increase wages or provide stipends for front line kitchen staff and incentives to purchase local food. 

How To Apply

Application Instructions

SFAs will indicate whether they opt-in to the program via the School Nutrition Programs application in the Colorado Nutrition Portal. Applications are due by Friday, Sept. 15.

How to Claim

Sponsors operating the Healthy School Meals for All program will follow CDE School Nutrition's standard claiming guidance

Program Requirements

The Healthy School Meals for All ballot initiative passed in the November general election, which means that public School Food Authorities participating in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs in the 2023-24 school year may choose to opt in to the Healthy School Meals for All program. Opting into this program includes:

• Notifying the CDE School Nutrition Unit of participation during next year’s application renewal.
• Participating in the Community Eligibility Provision and implementing School Breakfast and National School Lunch programs at all qualifying CEP schools.
• Providing free meals to all students enrolled in all school sites that participate in the School Breakfast or National School Lunch Program.

In School Year 2024-25, SFAs may also choose to receive funding for front line kitchen staff wage increases or stipends and incentives to purchase local food.

Sponsors are encouraged to watch the recording of the November On the Menu Session ,view the November On the Menu Slides (PDF) and reference this Healthy School Meals for All FAQ  to learn more about the Healthy School Meals for All program.

Policy & Guidance

• House Bill 22-1414
• Healthy School Meals for All State Board

Program Resources:

Program Outreach

Use outreach materials to communicate about your participation in the program and communicate to families about the importance of providing household income information.

Use these videos to share information in your community about Healthy School Meals for All.