School MEALS Act of 2025

This bill aims to significantly improve the efficiency and reach of free school meal programs by enhancing direct certification processes. A central provision establishes a new program for Direct Certification Improvement Grants and Technical Assistance , allocating $28 million to support these efforts. These grants will be provided to eligible entities, including state agencies and tribal organizations, specifically to improve their direct certification rates for the school lunch program, with priority given to those with the lowest current rates. Grant funds can be utilized for various improvements, such as upgrading technology, offering technical assistance to local educational agencies, implementing or revising direct certification systems, and fostering coordination with multiple public benefits programs. The legislation also allocates a minimum of $2 million of the grant funding to support direct certification for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations . Additionally, the bill modifies the Community Eligibility Option (CEO) by adjusting the periods for calculating identified students and increases the minimum percentage of eligible children that State agencies must directly certify from 10 percent to 20 percent. Finally, it introduces new reporting requirements for states, mandating descriptions of technical assistance received and progress made in enrolling children for free school meals.