Santa Cruz City Schools will provide free breakfast and lunch to every student during the 2026–2027 school year, regardless of household income.
The meals are available through the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs and California’s Universal Meals Program. Free meals will be offered at all district schools, including Bayview, Gault, Westlake, DeLaveaga and Monarch elementary schools; Mission Hill and Branciforte middle schools; Santa Cruz, Harbor, Soquel and Costanoa high schools; and Delta School, Alternative Family Education and Ark Independent Studies.
‐We’re thrilled to once again be able to give the support and the comfort of good meals to all of our students,‐ said Amy Hedrick-Farr, Santa Cruz City Schools Director of Food and Nutrition Services. ‐Reliable, easy access to healthy food is something we’re very proud to provide.‐
Although meals are free for every student, the district is asking all families to complete a short application at sccs.net/freelunch. School districts are still required to collect general information about the families they serve.
Completing the form can also qualify families for other benefits and discounts, including reduced-cost internet and phone service, college application fee waivers and SAT testing assistance.
The district has also worked to make food and nutrition part of students’ education. Elementary students participate in Life Lab gardens, where they learn about gardening, horticulture, ecology and the connections between food and the environment.
In recent years, the district’s food program has increasingly emphasized local, sustainable and organic foods. It has also moved toward biodegradable and plastic-free packaging and composts food waste for use in school gardens.
Superintendent Kris Munro said providing unrestricted access to meals also supports equity and strengthens connections among students.
‐Any time people break bread together, it creates a space for the creation and restoration of community,‐ Munro said. ‐I’m so proud of the incredible work of our tireless food services team.‐
Families are encouraged to complete the application at sccs.net/freelunch.
