Meals for Washington Students

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/School Breakfast Program (SBP)

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TTY: 360-664-3631

Staff Contacts

House Bill 1238 (HB 1238) requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to provide meals at no cost to students enrolled at elementary schools where 40% or more of children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. This requirement begins school year 2023–24 and is based on the preceding year’s October Building Data.

Refer to the Comparison of Meal Service Options chart to determine how HB 1238 differs from other meal service options implemented under NSLP.

Schools Operating HB 1238 in School Year 2023–24

Eligible Schools

2023–24 HB 1238 Eligible Schools Report

Getting Started with HB 1238

Free & Reduced-Price Meal Application Information

HB 1238 requires Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to collect free and reduced-price meal applications and claim meals by eligibility category (free, reduced-price, and paid). Under the bill, the state will provide supplemental funding for the difference between the paid and free meal reimbursement so all meals are reimbursed at the federal free rate.

Application Materials

These materials are templates for school district use. PARENTS- please visit the Washington School Meals Application Finder or your school district's website for application materials.

It’s More Than a Meal Application Toolkit

This toolkit is designed to help districts promote the importance of families filling out the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application each year. The information collected on these forms can help schools receive funding for important programs.

Flyers & Templates

Social Media

Annual Verification Requirements

Verifying free and reduced-price meal applications remains an annual requirement for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) operating under HB 1238. The materials below have been updated to reflect the legislation. Additional information on verification requirements can be found on the Meal Application & Verification webpage.