What will change for schoolchildren from September 1: free lunches, 5 thousand for first-graders and new assessment rules

The new 2026/2027 school year will bring a number of changes for Ukrainian schoolchildren and their parents. Starting September 1, free hot meals will be extended to all students of municipal schools, first-graders will be able to receive 5 thousand hryvnias in assistance, and assessment approaches are being updated for students in grades 5–9. Separate rules apply to shelters, distance learning, and protecting children from violence.

Free lunches for students in grades 1–11

One of the main changes will be the expansion of the free meals program. Starting September 1, 2026, students in grades 1–11 (12) of municipal schools will be entitled to free hot meals.

About UAH 7.4 billion in state subsidies are provided for the program for September–November 2026. Parents do not need to submit a separate application — the school must organize meals.

The estimated cost of the products will be:

50 UAH per day for students in grades 1–4;

60 UAH per day for students in grades 5–11/12.

At the same time, the school or community should not require parents to pay extra for “better products” or increase the portion size.

Free meals are provided only on days when the child actually attends school. During distance learning, monetary compensation in lieu of lunch is not provided.

What to do if a child needs special nutrition

A special menu can be organized for children with food allergies, lactose intolerance, or other conditions.

To do this, parents need to provide the school with a medical certificate from a family doctor or pediatrician indicating the appropriate diagnosis.

For example, in case of milk allergy, plant-based drinks can be offered, and in case of lactase deficiency, lactose-free dairy products.

How to feed children during alarms and blackouts

Separate rules are provided for prolonged air alarms or power outages.

If hot food cannot be prepared or served safely, it is allowed to be replaced with ready-made foods, chilled dishes, drinks or buffet products.

A supply of water and food can also be created in the shelter for at least 48 hours of continuous stay of students and employees.

No shelter – no face-to-face learning

Safety remains the key factor in determining the format of training.

If the school does not have the opportunity to accommodate all students and employees in the shelter, the administration should organize training in several shifts or use a mixed format.

The number of people who are in the school at the same time cannot exceed the capacity of the shelter. The shelter itself must be provided with ventilation, water, first-aid kits, communications, lighting and alternative power supply.

At the same time, it is impossible to require parents to pay for shelter repairs, purchase generators, benches, blankets or other equipment as a condition of education.

“Student Package”: UAH 5,000 for a first-grader

Families of first-graders can receive a one-time allowance of UAH 5,000.

Parents, adoptive parents or official guardians of the child can apply for it. The application can be submitted through Diya by selecting the “Student Package” service.

The funds are for a specific purpose. They can be used, in particular, for:

stationery, books, a backpack, school clothes and shoes.

The application must be submitted by November 1, 2026. Payment is not provided if the child is re-enrolling in the first grade, is abroad or in a temporarily occupied territory.

Students in grades 5–9 will be assessed in a new way

In August, the Ministry of Education and Science updated its recommendations for assessing students in basic schools.

Three types of assessment are provided: formative, current, and summative. At the same time, the teacher does not need to give a grade for each task or in each lesson.

It is especially emphasized: the student’s behavior should not affect the academic grade. Similarly, the grade cannot be lowered simply for forgetfulness or uneven handwriting, unless this is part of a specific learning outcome.

Information about grades must be confidential: it is not allowed to announce grades for the entire class, create open ratings, or publicly discuss the performance of a particular student at general parent meetings.

When will the holidays be

The 2026/2027 school year will begin on September 1, 2026, and the deadline for its completion is June 30, 2027.

At the same time, this does not mean that schoolchildren will necessarily study until the end of June. The specific structure of the year and the dates of the holidays are determined by the school’s pedagogical council, taking into account the security situation, weather and heating.

The total duration of holidays during the school year, excluding summer holidays, must be at least 30 calendar days.

“Class funds”: no obligation to donate money

Parents cannot be forced to finance the needs of a communal school.

Financing of communal services, repairs, furniture, detergents, paper and other needs of the institution is carried out from the relevant budgets and other sources provided for by law.

Parents can help the school, but charitable contributions must be exclusively voluntary.

New rules for protecting children from violence

The school must provide a safe environment and respond to cases of violence, abuse,