SFUSD Will Continue Offering Free Meals for All Students in 2022-23

Press Release

San Francisco (August 12, 2022) - The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) will continue to offer all students free school meals in the 2022-23 school year under the California Meals for All Act. 

As of the 2022-23 school year, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into order California Meals for All, which establishes the California Universal Meals Programs that provides universal meals for all school children. Under California Meals for All, all SFUSD students can eat school breakfast and lunch at no cost regardless of their family’s income, and no application is necessary. California was the first state to pass a universal free school meals program for all public school students. 

“We know that students do better in school when they have access to healthy meals,” said SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne. “We are thankful to our dedicated Student Nutrition Services staff for feeding and nourishing our students, as well as to the State of California for ensuring that all of our students have access to essential nutrition.”

This school year, 21 middle and high schools in SFUSD will serve food from the Refresh menu, which are meals prepared in each school’s kitchen. The Refresh menu utilizes fresh produce and products from local and sustainable businesses. Elementary schools are served by East-Bay based Revolution Foods, which delivers fresh meals daily. Elementary schools will transition to bulk self-serve vegetables in September to reduce plastic waste and promote fresh vegetable options.  

“School meals are a great way to support our students' health and wellbeing, as well as the local economy here in California,” said Alexandra Emmott, Interim Executive Director of SFUSD Student Nutrition Services. “When children are able to eat healthy meals during their school day, they're better positioned to achieve. The California Universal Meal Program means school meals are available to all students at no cost, which is a huge benefit to families as we face rising food costs and inflation.”

While applications are not necessary to receive school meals, SFUSD families are still encouraged to complete the Multipurpose Family Income Form (MFIF) to help secure funding for their schools and receive benefits like discounted utilities.

For more information about school meals at SFUSD, visit sfusd.edu/schoolfood.

About SFUSD Student Nutrition Services (SNS)

As the largest meal provider in San Francisco, SFUSD Student Nutrition Services (SNS) is committed to providing students the equitable support they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond, by keeping them nourished along the way. During the regular school year, SNS serves over 47,500 meals per day at 120 schools across San Francisco. 

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