: Education leaders have expressed worry over proposed federal changes that could raise the threshold for free meal eligibility, potentially disqualifying numerous Iowa schools from the CEP program. Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility in Iowa
: Since the end of pandemic-era universal free meals, many Iowa districts have seen a surge in student meal debt, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars across metro areas. Iowa Reduced Lunch Statistics
During the 2023-2024 school year, approximately of Iowa students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch . This statistic has remained steady over the last decade, generally fluctuating between 40% and 43%. Eligibility and Impact : Education leaders have expressed worry over proposed