Portland Public Schools will stop providing free lunches for all students at a dozen schools this fall because those schools no longer qualify for the federal program.

Notices to families at the affected schools — which are mostly located in North Portland and near 82nd Avenue — went out Thursday.

Students whose families can show they are low-income still will be given free meals. But all students at the 12 schools will no longer get free meals automatically, as has been the case for a few years.

The federal "community eligibility" program, which has been in full effect since 2013, gives schools money to provide free meals to all if 40 percent of students are served by income-restricted programs, primarily food stamps.

Madison, Jefferson and Roosevelt high schools are affected, meaning no Portland high schools will offer the schoolwide free lunches as of this school year.

Portland Public Schools Assistant Director of Nutrition Services Whitney Ellersick said the improved economy has likely reduced the share of families qualifying for food stamps.

She said some families have told the district they decided not to apply for government assistance out of fear or because they feel the process is too arduous.

The schools will continue to serve free breakfasts to any students who want it, she said.

Free lunches will be served at the 12 schools through Oct. 11 to give families a grace period to apply for help.

After that, students who don't qualify for free meals will have to pay $2.80 to $3.30, depending on grade level, to eat a school lunch.

The district's notice to families blamed "changes at the federal level." But the federal program is unchanged.

Gitta Grether-Sweeney, director of nutrition services for the district, said when some students shifted to Ockley Green Middle School the federal guidelines were unclear about whether or the district had to reconfigure its count of eligible students in that grouping of schools. It took a long time to get an answer, but ultimately the district was told it had to redo things, she said.

Not wanting to leave affected schools in the lurch, the district decided to bridge the funding for a year, she said. But looking at the budget, it just wasn't feasible to continue to do that, she said.

"We are really saddened that we can't continue this program and optimally we would love to be serving all kids at no charge," Ellersick said. "We don't charge for textbooks why should we charge for meals?"

— Bethany Barnes

Got a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email Bethany: bbarnes@oregonian.com

Schools cutting the program

Faubion K-8

James John Elementary

Jefferson High

Kelly Elementary

Lane Middle School

Lee Elementary

Madison High

Marysville Elementary

Roosevelt High

Vestal Elementary

Whitman Elementary

Woodlawn Elementary

Schools keeping the program

Alliance at Meek

Boise Eliot/Humboldt K-8

Cesar Chavez K-8

George Middle School

Harrison Park K-8

King K-8

Lent K-8

Pioneer at Youngson

Rigler Elementary

Rosa Parks Elementary

Scott K-8

Sitton Elementary

Woodmere Elementary