Every public school must have a free lunch program that provides free lunches (and breakfasts if a school offers breakfast) to students eligible to receive free meals, per 105 ILCS 125/4 and 23 Illinois Administrative Code 305.10.
Reimbursement to offset a portion of the cost of the meal is available if a site serves a
reimbursable meal to a student eligible for a free meal and the site is enrolled in the Illinois Free Program. To become a sponsor of this state-funded school meals program, see the
Program Participation page. Note: Sites participating in a federally-funded school meals program,
National School Lunch Program and/or
School Breakfast Program, are automatically enrolled in the corresponding Illinois Free Program.
