As students head back to class in many districts today, dozens of Iowa schools are preparing to offer free breakfast and lunch. A federal program called the Community Eligibility Provision or C-E-P pays for meals at select schools. Patti Harding, at the Iowa Department of Education, says schools have to show they have a high percentage of students who qualify for free lunch through other federal programs like SNAP or welfare.

Based on preliminary numbers, Harding expects more Iowa schools to offer free lunch this year, but at fewer school systems overall.