The era of free breakfast and lunch for every Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) student is ending this fall, and none of the three public schools most commonly serving Key Biscayne students is among the 121 campuses retaining both meals at no charge.
Key Biscayne K-8 Center, MAST Academy and Coral Gables Senior High School are classified as non-CEP schools for the 2026-27 school year, according to a district list.
New meal prices for students attending Key Biscayne K-8, MAST Academy and Coral Gables Senior High during the 2026-27 school year. Applications for free or reduced-price meals open Aug. 10 at mdcpsnutrition.net. (Islander News graphic)
The change follows the end of M-DCPS’ four-year districtwide participation in the federal Community Eligibility Provision. CEP itself remains in place but updated federal eligibility data determined that the district no longer qualifies to provide free breakfast and lunch to every student.
Here is what the change means to Island families:
Key Biscayne K-8: Breakfast remains free for every student. Lunch will cost $4.20 unless the student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. A reduced-price lunch will cost 40 cents.
MAST Academy and Coral Gables Senior High: Breakfast will cost $2.50 and lunch $4.20 unless the student qualifies. Reduced prices will be 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch.
Families at all three schools must submit a Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application to receive benefits unless their children are automatically certified through programs such as SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, foster care, Head Start, migrant services or homeless assistance.
Applications open Aug. 10 at mdcpsnutrition.net.
The district says all students will receive free meals during the first 30 days of school or until their new eligibility status is determined. Families are encouraged to apply early to avoid an interruption once that period ends.
The Community Eligibility Provision allows qualifying high-poverty schools to serve meals to every student without collecting individual applications. This year, 121 M-DCPS schools qualify for universal free breakfast and lunch.
The district did not release the eligibility figures that resulted in the remaining schools losing districtwide coverage.