Participation in 2021–2022 was higher than that of pre-pandemic levels, with just over 866,200 additional children participating in breakfast when compared to the 2018–2019 school year (the last full year before the pandemic), and 1.4 million additional children participating in school lunch.Īt the onset of the pandemic, schools shuttered and participation in school meals dropped.

Lunch saw an even more dramatic increase: During the 2021–2022 school year, almost 4.5 billion lunches were served through SSO and the National School Lunch Program combined, an increase of 1.5 billion meals when compared to the previous school year.During the 2021–2022 school year, almost 2.4 billion breakfasts were served through the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and School Breakfast Program combined, an increase of just over 237 million meals when compared to the 2020–2021 school year.“Congress must build on this lesson learned and make healthy school meals for all a permanent reality for all children across the country.” “This sharp increase in participation demonstrates what is possible when meals are provided to all students at no charge and children are back in school,” said Luis Guardia, president of FRAC. WASHINGTON, March 9, 2023 - With most schools back to in-person learning and offering breakfast and lunch at no cost to all of their students, participation in school meals grew dramatically during the 2021–2022 school year, slightly surpassing participation prior to the pandemic, according to a report released by the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) during National School Breakfast Week (March 6–10, 2023).įRAC’s The Reach of Breakfast and Lunch During the 2021–2022 School Year reveals that just over 15.5 million children received a breakfast, and 29.9 million children received a lunch on an average day during the 2021–2022 school year - an increase of 1.6 million children (11.2 percent) for breakfast, and 10.1 million (51.1 percent) for lunch compared to the previous year, and slightly above participation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jordan reveals nearly 1.6 million more children received school breakfast and 10.1 million more children received school lunch during the 2021–2022 school year compared to the previous school year.

Seamless free meal