In School Year (SY) 2022–23, California became the first state to implement a statewide Universal Meals Program for school children. California’s Universal Meals Program (UMP) builds on the foundations of the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). There are three key pillars to ensure the program's success:

​

• Pillar One: California’s state meal mandate requires local educational agencies (LEA) to make available both a nutritiously adequate breakfast and lunch for, not just needy children, but all children each school day.

• Pillar Two: High poverty schools are required to participate in a federal provision.

• Pillar Three: The California State Legislature allocates funds to provide state meal reimbursement to cover the cost of the UMP.

​

What does this mean?

This means schools serving students in grades transitional kindergarten through grade 12 (TK–12) must provide two meals free of charge (breakfast and lunch) during each school day to students requesting a meal, regardless of their free or reduced-price meal eligibility.

                                            ​