(Atlantic, Iowa) – When the 2021-2022 school year ends, it will also bring an end to the federally funded free lunch program for all students. The federal government funded a program that allowed all students access to free meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Congress recently declined to continue funding this program. Officials with the Atlantic Community School District say this means all families will need to carry a positive balance in their children’s school meal accounts when school begins next fall.

It is likely to see a circulation within different news outlets that certain districts, most recently the Des Moines Public
School District, is still offering free lunch to all students. This is in conjunction with a grant awarded to them from the
USDA. This grant allows low-income districts to apply for and be awarded funds that allow for the continuation of
school lunch for all students. 

This grant is available to all districts in Iowa, but a certain threshold of free and reduced lunch participants must be
met in order to qualify as a low income district. ACSD highly encourages all families to fill out an application for free
and reduced lunch and take advantage of those benefits. In doing so, there is potential for our overall need to meet
the threshold that would then qualify all or many for free school lunch.

Officials say “We recognize the change in the federal government’s decision to fund a free lunch program will be difficult for many families. ACSD encourages the following options as you prepare for the 2022 – 2023 school year:
1. Complete an application for Free and Reduced Meals NOW. This can be completed in the JMC Parent Portal. If
you have any questions or need assistance completing this application, please contact Natalie Ritter,
nritter@atlanticiaschools.org or 712.243.5369
2. Begin offsetting your school lunch money needs by depositing money into your students lunch account now.
Money can be deposited any time throughout the year, including over the summer. This will start to build a
reserve of funds that can be used at the start of the 2022 – 2023 school year. Information on meal prices for
the 2022-2023 school year will be available in the near future. If you have questions about adding money to
your student’s account or if you need assistance accessing the Parent Portal, please reach out to your building
Secretaries.

FOR MORE INFORMATION REACH OUT TO ACSD FOOD AND NUTRITION DIRECTOR, NATALIE RITTER:
NRITTER@ATLANTICIASCHOOLS.ORG