DES MOINES, Iowa — For the third consecutive year, Des Moines Public Schools will offer free breakfast and lunch to all students in every school building during the 2024-25 school year, the district said in a news release.
Student are automatically enrolled into the program and families do not have to fill out any paperwork.
“I am delighted that we can continue to provide free meals to students,” said Food and Nutrition Director Amanda Miller. “The best part is there are no hoops for families to jump through and no lunch debt for them to accrue. Every child gets in the same line and is handed the same nutritious meal regardless of their family income.”
Providing free meals to all students has been a goal of Miller's, according to the release. During the 2013-14 school year, DMPS began offering free meals to students at 13 schools. 25 more schools were added the following year.
The district began offering free meals at all 60 schools regardless of family income in fall of 2022.
“Nutritious meals are a foundational part of student academic and behavioral supports,” said Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts. “The ability of our students to focus and achieve excellence should not be compromised by hunger.”
DMPS offers the meals through its participation in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Community Eligibility Provision.
In addition, DMPS has offered free meals to all Des Moines children over the summer for more than 40 years.