Federal guidelines set for free meal programs at school

Friday, July 9, 2021 at 6:12 AM

By USDA

2021-2022 school year

(File Photo)

FRANKFORT, Ky. (KT) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has set revised income eligibility guidelines for students and adults to participate in free and reduced-price meal programs through the Child and Adult Care Food Program for the 2021-2022 school year.

The CACFP is federally funded through the USDA and is administered by the Kentucky Department of Education, Division of School and Community Nutrition.

The program provides for nutritious meals and snacks to qualifying participants attending childcare centers, daycare homes, Head Start programs, adult day cares, homeless shelters and afterschool programs.

It also works to establish positive eating habits at the earliest stages of development; reduces future health care and education costs by encouraging proper early development; and provides training and support of local center personnel.

The new Income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meals are:

Family Size	Free Meals Monthly Income	Free Meals Yearly Income	Reduced-Price Meals Monthly Income	Reduced-Price Meals Yearly Income
1	$1,396	$16,744	$1,986	$23,828
2	$1,888	$22,646	$2,686	$32,227
3	$2,379	$28,548	$3,386	$40,626
4	$2,871	$34,450	$4,086	$49,025
5	$3,363	$40,352	$4,786	$57,424
6	$3,855	$46,254	$5,486	$65,823
7	$4,347	$52,156	$6,186	$74,222
8	$4,839	$58,058	$6,886	$82,621
For each additional family member add:	$492	$5,902	$700	$8,399

For more information about the CACFP, please contact KDE, Division of School and Community Nutrition, at (502) 564-5625 or visit https://education.ky.gov/federal/SCN/Pages/CACFPHomepage.aspx.