California public school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools serving students in grades transitional kindergarten through grade 12 are required to provide two meals free of charge (breakfast and lunch) during each school day to students requesting a meal, regardless of their free or reduced-price meal eligibility¹. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals is based on whether a child’s household meets certain income requirements². California’s Universal Meals Program will provide funding for breakfast and lunch each school day to students who request a meal, regardless of whether they qualify for free or reduced price meals already³. California will be the first state to implement free meals to all public school students in the 2022-2023 school year⁴.