Starting this fall, several Bellingham public schools will no longer qualify for programs that provide free breakfast and lunch to every student, regardless of family income. The change is the result of updated state and federal eligibility criteria that determine which schools qualify for Community Eligibility Provision, the program that allows schools with high percentages of low-income students to serve all students free meals without collecting individual applications.
According to an announcement from Bellingham Public Schools, the schools losing schoolwide free meal status in 2026-27 include Squalicum High School, Fairhaven Middle School, Whatcom Middle School, Lowell Elementary, and Northern Heights Elementary. At these schools, families who want their children to receive free or reduced-price meals will need to submit a meal benefits application at the start of the school year. Students who do not qualify under income guidelines will pay full price for school lunch.
The transition means families at those five schools will need to take action in August or September when school returns. Bellingham Public Schools has said it will notify families directly about how to apply. Parents who believe their household qualifies for free or reduced-price meals should watch for those communications and submit applications promptly to avoid any disruption to their children's meal access during the first weeks of school.
At the same time, a larger group of Bellingham elementary schools will retain schoolwide free meal eligibility under federal and state criteria. The schools continuing to offer free breakfast and lunch for all students include Alderwood, Birchwood, Carl Cozier, Cordata, Happy Valley, Parkview, Roosevelt, and Silver Beach elementaries, along with Options High School, Bellingham Technical College Running Start participants, and Community Transitions. Students at those schools will see no change in fall 2026.
The district is also noting that this year's announcement comes in the context of a larger budget challenge. As reported by The Front, Bellingham Public Schools is contending with a $7.5 million funding shortfall from the Washington State Legislature for 2026-27, which has already led to cuts in staff positions, school libraries, athletics, and student programs. The loss of schoolwide meal funding at some buildings adds another layer of financial pressure on families and the district alike.
For families with school-age children this summer, the district is offering a summer food program at no charge to all children 18 and under through its partnership with community sites across Bellingham. Summer meal locations and hours are available through the district's website at bellinghamschools.org. Whatcom Community Food Bank also offers expanded summer food bank hours; the district encourages families to check the food bank's schedule directly for the nearest location and times.
The state-level framework governing these eligibility determinations is administered by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, which collects eligibility data from all districts that participate in federal child nutrition programs. Families with questions about eligibility rules or how to apply for meal benefits in the fall should contact their school's office or the district's child nutrition services team.
For Bellingham families, the key dates to watch are the start of the 2026-27 school year in late August and the opening of the meal benefits application window. Submitting that application early ensures children at newly transitioned schools have uninterrupted access to free or reduced-price meals from day one.
