Free lunch and breakfast will be provided to students at 19 schools across the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) for this academic year as it participates in the federally funded Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program.
The federal program is a non-pricing meal service for schools and districts in low-income areas. It allows schools to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students regardless of income level. The program provides MMSD with federal reimbursements for meals served to students and does not rely on local taxpayers to cover the costs.
“Making sure students have reliable access to nutritious meals is an important part of supporting their success in the classroom,” said Josh Perkins, MMSD’s director of food and nutrition. “CEP helps us make that access simple and consistent for students and families, while ensuring students can start their school day ready to learn and have the nourishment they need throughout the day.”
Adequate nutrition has a tangible effect on a student’s academic performance, attendance, cognitive development and overall health, according to the CDC.
Further research has shown the universal-free school breakfast programs students showed improvement in attendance, academic performance, participation in school breakfast, report less hunger and lower nutritional risk than those without access to similar nutritional programs
A 2024 study examined the outcomes of schools that participated in CEP since it became nationwide in 2014. In that study, it examined the correlation between universal free school meals and school and student outcomes. Schools largely showed better attendance, higher participation in lunch and better overall health of students.
Wisconsin was also examined in the study between the 2013-14 and 2015-16 academic years. It showed that the first year it participated, during the first year that CEP became available nationwide, it had no impact on attendance. The second year did see a 3.5% increase in attendance of students with low attendance — which was associated with students and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Schools included in the free breakfast and lunch program at MMSD for the 2026-27 year are:
- Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School
- Badger Rock Middle School
- Black Hawk Middle School
- Capital High School
- Hawthorne Elementary School
- Dr. Virginia Henderson Elementary School
- John F. Kennedy Elementary School
- Lake View Elementary School
- Aldo Leopold Elementary School
- Charles Lindbergh Elementary School
- Lori Mann Carey Elementary School
- Mendota Elementary School
- John Muir Elementary School
- Orchard Ridge Elementary School
- Carl Sandburg Elementary School
- Schenk Elementary School
- Sherman Middle School
- Annie Greencrow Whitehorse Middle School
- James C. Wright Middle School
Parents will not be required to submit applications for their children to qualify as long as they remain at the specific school. Should a child transfer schools to one not on the list, parents can go through the Free or Reduced-price application.
