School Meal Participation Dramatically Increased As Kids Returned to School and to Free School Meals, Report Finds

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).