This is a trend of public schools across the country. I think it is a scam on the "free lunch" program. I say that because when I had kids in high school they implemented the school breakfast program. It was "free" to all, not income based, no paperwork required. My daughter ate breakfast at home and did not go to the cafeteria. She was soon approached by staff and told to go to the cafeteria each morning and scan her student ID card for breakfast. The school was telling her she had to do it so the school would get more money. It became a big deal because she refused to scan her card for a breakfast she did not want, no plans to eat. I had to have a talk with them about "free meals" not being free, and the idea that they were ordering students to lie, cheat, and steal money from the government for the school.
Now there is a movement to make all school lunches "free" as well.
The district my kids are in at the moment offers free breakfast and lunch to all, as a response to Hurricane Harvey. I don’t doubt they will keep it up for the whole year, instead of expiring the offer at the end of October, as I’m sure some parents will complain about having to pay for lunches again. Of course, they’ll not complain that the school taxes are too high. And to think, I live in a rural area south of Houston.