Plymouth Schools to resume meal charges after two years of free lunches

Plymouth Community School Corporation announced last Tuesday that it will return to charging for school meals beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, ending a two-year period of universal free meals for all students.

The decision comes as the school district faces a funding shortfall, with state and federal reimbursements failing to keep pace with rising food costs.

"While we were proud to offer free meals these past two school years, unfortunately, the reimbursement received from the State and USDA is not enough to cover the increased cost of food," district officials said in a letter to families.

Under the new pricing structure, students paying full price will be charged $3.50 for lunch and $2.50 for breakfast. Students eligible for reduced-price meals will pay $0.40 for lunch and $0.30 for breakfast—rates that remain unchanged.

The district emphasized that many families may still qualify for free or reduced-price meals through existing programs. Students enrolled in state benefit programs, including Medicaid, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) will automatically qualify. Foster children are also eligible for free meals.

Families who believe their household income qualifies them for free or reduced-price meals can submit applications at their child's school or online at nlappscloud.com beginning July 1, 2026.

The return to paid meal pricing reflects a challenge facing school districts nationwide as pandemic-era federal funding for universal free school meals has expired, forcing many districts to resume charging families while food costs continue to climb.