Federal School Meal Reimbursement Rates Increase Amid Concerns Over Education Department Transfers

Federal school meal reimbursement rates are set to increase by 3.54% for the 2026-27 school year, impacting various meal programs. Concurrently, former federal officials have expressed concerns regarding the Trump administration's proposed transfers of core Education Department responsibilities to other federal agencies, citing potential negative effects on special education funding, policy, and coordination. Additionally, the House Education and Workforce Committee has advanced several bills, including one to codify Title IX's definition of "sex" as biological sex.