Denville families will have an easier time signing up for free and reduced-price school meals under a new state law.
Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the legislation (A3882/S3426) on June 18, 2026. It requires every public school in New Jersey to post a link to the subsidized school meals application in a prominent spot on its website, along with a link to at least one informational video from the New Jersey Office of the Food Security Advocate that explains how to apply.
The change is meant to close information gaps that keep eligible families from enrolling. Across the state, 689,149 students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, and officials say many more may be eligible but never complete the paperwork.
The announcement came with a second piece of summer news. The state is issuing Summer EBT benefits to more than 680,000 eligible children, a one-time $120 per child that families can use to buy groceries at stores, farmers markets, and other authorized retailers while school is out. Families can check their child’s eligibility through the state’s parent portal.
For Denville parents, the application covers students in the Denville Township School District and at Morris Knolls High School. The School Meals and Summer EBT application is accepted year-round, and families can apply by contacting their local school district.
The update lands as Denville schools close out the year, with Superintendent Forte set to retire June 30, and the Denville library’s 2026 summer reading program now underway for kids.
