Getting started.
Who this helps
Students at Maine public schools can get school meals at no charge. A tuition-approved private school must provide no-charge breakfast or lunch to its publicly funded students if it has at least 60% publicly funded students, participates in the National School Lunch Program, and serves that meal.
How to get started
Direct certification can approve eligible children for free meals without a household application.
Open meal resources.
On Maine DOE's Student Eligibility & Applications page, choose the public-school or private-school section that matches your child's school.
Use an application.
If you need to apply for meal benefits at a school that charges for meals, use the current household application and instructions under that school type.
Ask Maine DOE.
For help with student eligibility or applications, email [email protected].
How they can help.
Maine DOE offers meal applications, instructions, eligibility notices, and direct-certification information for school meal programs.
- Breakfast at no charge in public schools
- Lunch at no charge in public schools
- Meal applications, instructions, and eligibility notices
- Direct certification for eligible children
- Translated meal application materials
A few questions before you go.
Check how the service works, when it is available, and any costs. Ask about communication or accessibility support if you need it.
- Will my child need an application for meals at school?
- Does the no-charge meal rule apply at my child's school?
- Can my child get no-charge meals at a private school?
- Are meal application instructions available in my language?