BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) this week announced updates to the Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) for free and reduced-price school meals, effective from August 28, 2024, through June 30, 2025. The guidelines, updated annually by the federal government, were adopted by MSDE through June 30, 2025.
The eligibility for free and reduced-price meals is determined based on household size and income. The guidelines are applied to a family’s annual income, and the child’s eligibility is determined by whether their family’s income is above or below a certain amount.
For example, a child from a family of four qualifies for free school meals if their family’s annual income is below $40,560. If the family’s income falls between $40,561 and $57,720, the child is eligible for reduced-price meals. These guidelines also ensure that children who are enrolled in certain special programs, such as Head Start, Even Start, certified as homeless, migrant, runaway, foster children, or living in households receiving Food Supplement Program (FSP) or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) benefits, automatically qualify for free meals and do not need to submit an application.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to submit complete applications for free and reduced-price school meals at the beginning of each school year. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Schools will contact parents and guardians after reviewing the applications and notifying them of their children’s eligibility status. Parents and guardians can ask schools for clarification, appeal their decision, or request a hearing with school officials if they have any concerns or disagreements.
The Maryland State Department of Education oversees the school meal programs and ensures that they adhere to the nutritional standards set by the USDA. The funding for the program is provided by the Maryland Cares for Kids Act. These guidelines are updated annually by the USDA to directly benefit children who are in need. The IEGs were established by multiplying the 2024 federal income poverty guidelines by 130% to determine the household income levels for free meal eligibility, and by 185% for reduced-price meal eligibility. U.S. citizenship is not required to apply.
For additional information, visit www.eatsmartmaryland.org or contact the Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs at 410-767-0219.
Free Meals
| Household Size | Annual | Monthly | Twice per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $19,578 | $1,632 | $816 | $753 | $377 |
| 2 | $26,572 | $2,215 | $1,108 | $1,022 | $511 |
| 3 | $33,566 | $2,798 | $1,399 | $1,291 | $646 |
| 4 | $40,560 | $3,380 | $1,690 | $1,560 | $780 |
| 5 | $47,554 | $3,963 | $1,982 | $1,829 | $915 |
| 6 | $54,548 | $4,546 | $2,273 | $2,098 | $1,049 |
| 7 | $61,542 | $5,129 | $2,565 | $2,367 | $1,184 |
| 8 | $68,536 | $5,712 | $2,856 | $2,636 | $1,318 |
| For each additional family member add… | $6,994 | $583 | $292 | $269 | $135 |
Reduced-Price Meals
| Household Size | Annual | Monthly | Twice per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $27,861 | $2,322 | $1,161 | $1,072 | $536 |
| 2 | $37,814 | $3,152 | $1,576 | $1,455 | $728 |
| 3 | $47,767 | $3,981 | $1,991 | $1,838 | $919 |
| 4 | $57,720 | $4,810 | $2,405 | $2,220 | $1,110 |
| 5 | $67,673 | $5,640 | $2,820 | $2,603 | $1,302 |
| 6 | $77,626 | $6,469 | $3,235 | $2,986 | $1,493 |
| 7 | $87,579 | $7,299 | $3,650 | $3,369 | $1,685 |
| 8 | $97,532 | $8,128 | $4,064 | $3,752 | $1,876 |
| For each additional family member add… | $9,953 | $830 | $415 | $383 | $192 |
This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.
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