One back-to-school expense remains off the family budget in Worcester this fall: breakfast and lunch.
Worcester Public Schools said on Tuesday that students at all district schools continue to receive breakfast and lunch at no cost during the 2026-27 school year through the federal Community Eligibility Provision.
The program means families do not have to pay for school meals or fill out household applications for their children to participate, according to the district’s announcement.
WPS, which serves nearly 25,000 students across close to 50 schools and programs, participates in both the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. The Community Eligibility Provision, commonly known as CEP, allows eligible schools and districts to provide meals to all students without collecting individual applications for free or reduced-price meals.
For Worcester families, the practical result is straightforward: Students can eat breakfast and lunch at school regardless of household income, with no bill attached.
The continuation of no-cost meals was already built into the district’s fiscal 2027 budget planning. WPS projected $18.3 million in school nutrition reimbursement revenue for the coming year, with meal participation expected to remain strong.
The district said all schools are offering meals each school day at no charge to students.
The announcement also included the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s nondiscrimination statement and information for filing complaints related to federal school nutrition programs. Program information can be made available in languages other than English and in alternative formats for people with disabilities, according to the notice.
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