Several Alabama school systems will be offering breakfast and lunch free to all students when classes resume in August.
The state Department of Education says school systems qualifying for the free meals under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act have poverty levels that are 40 percent and higher.
Systems that have all or nearly all of their schools participating in the program are Montgomery County, Barbour County, Clarke County, Lowndes County, Wilcox County, Selma, Tarrant, Midfield, Chickasaw, Albertville, Dallas County, Macon County, Linden, Bessemer and Anniston.
The free meals apply to all students regardless of their family income. Students will pay for extra meals or for purchasing items individually.