Participating schools would provide free breakfast and lunch to all students

Schools in participating breakfast and lunch programs would have to provide free meals to all enrolled children. The rule covers children enrolled in schools that participate in the federal breakfast or lunch program. Unless a different date applies, the changes would take effect one year after enactment.

Schools participating in the breakfast or lunch program could not collect unpaid meal charges, and USDA would reimburse schools for qualifying debt. This covers schools participating in the federal breakfast or lunch programs and unpaid meal debt owed by parents or guardians. Qualifying debt is owed by a child's parent or guardian for school breakfast or lunch served before the general effective date. USDA must set up the reimbursement program within 60 days after the general effective date and pay schools within 180 days.

Schools and school food authorities would have to serve program meals to eligible children without singling them out for unpaid debt. This applies to children participating in the federal school breakfast program. The meal must be one the child is eligible to receive under the program. The rule would apply beginning on the date of enactment.

Child care and afterschool programs covered by the law would provide free meals and snacks to participating children and receive federal reimbursement. The provisions cover participating children in child care and afterschool programs authorized under federal meal programs. Reimbursement is limited to three meals and one snack per child per day in the child and adult care program, and one meal and one snack per child on a regular school day in the afterschool program. Unless a different date applies, the changes would take effect one year after enactment.

Local education agencies could use surveys, direct certification records, or both to identify students from low-income backgrounds. The measure applies when local or state education agencies identify students from low-income backgrounds for school-related purposes. Agencies must protect individual information under applicable privacy laws, and report only combined totals to the federal government. The Education Secretary would have 180 days after enactment to develop the survey template.