The School Food Service (SFS) Department oversees the implementation of four Child Nutrition Programs: the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), the Afterschool Snack Program (ASSP), and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). On average, the SFS Department serves approximately 157,762 meals daily through these programs.

All four of the Child Nutrition Programs are governed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) at the federal level. There are only three states in the United States where the Food and Nutrition Programs are overseen by the State’s Department of Agriculture. Florida’s transition occurred in 2011 to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) - Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness. Under this new leadership, School Food Authorities in Florida have a direct alignment with the Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam.

Since Child Nutrition Programs are federally assisted, children may qualify for free and reduced price meals. This qualification is based on household income. Children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130-185% of the poverty level are eligible for reduced-price meals. All students across the nation who qualify for reduced-price meals are charged 40 cents for lunch. In Palm Beach County, we continue to see the number of students qualifying for free and reduced price meals increase. Simultaneously, we have seen participation in all of our Child Nutrition Programs increase as well. At the end of the 2012-2013 school year 57% of our population qualified for meal benefits.

Total Number of Meals Served by Category