Austin ISD will provide free breakfast and lunch to every student at 69 campuses during the 2026-27 school year through the federally funded Community Eligibility Provision program, the district announced Aug. 7. The CEP allows schools in qualifying low-income areas to serve free meals to all enrolled students without an application.

The details: The 69 participating campuses include pre-K centers, elementary, middle and high schools, plus several alternative and child development campuses.

At non-CEP schools, meal costs still depend on a student's status, but thanks to new state funding from the Texas Legislature, students approved for reduced-price meals will now receive both breakfast and lunch at no cost.

Paid meal prices range from $1.90 to $3.65 depending on grade level and meal type.

What parents should know: Families can qualify through direct certification via state benefits programs, enrollment in foster care or homeless programs, or by submitting an application through the district website or on paper. Students with low account balances can charge a limited number of meals, and courtesy lunches remain uncapped after that.
 

Two new high-rises in Riverside are moving closer to development after recent city zoning approvals.

The details: Like Austin overall, the Riverside neighborhood has experienced a rising population and new development over the past decade-plus. The city previously established a master plan and regulating plan for the East Riverside Corridor to guide local improvements as more residents, businesses, transit investments and other facilities came to the area.

The current regulating plan includes building standards and height limits, allowed property uses and other details informed by residents' desires for the area. In July, City Council voted to remove two properties from the East Riverside Corridor plan for the development of the area's largest high-rise projects to date. Both will include hundreds of residences and reach 180 feet high.

Construction at AFS Cinema is now underway, bringing an additional screen to expand screening opportunities in Austin. 

Renovations to Austin Film Society are slated to debut this fall and construction will not disrupt regular programming, Holly Herrick, head of film and creative media at Austin Film Society, said.

Dig deeper: AFS has been showing films since the organization began in 1985, Herrick said. In 2017, the theater expanded to include a second screen; nearly a decade later, changes to the film industry have led to a third expansion for AFS. 
Construction on the new theater began in early 2026 and is slated to feature 179 seats, 4K digital laser projection and 7.1 surround sound.

What they offer: AFS Cinema has a range of programming that includes classic and foreign films, classes and workshops, film festivals and conversations with filmmakers. 

One more thing: Austin Film Society is now raising $250,000 to complete the construction. Community members can choose to donate online, selecting from tiers ranging from $30-$10,000. 

• 6259 Middle Fiskville Road, Austin

Check out the latest transportation projects across the Austin metro. 

Upcoming projects

I-35 at Inner Loop Interchange

Project: The project includes the design and construction of improvements to the interchange between SE Inner Loop and I-35 in Georgetown.

Update: All work for the project has been put on hold pending TxDOT advancing the design of I-35.

• Timeline: TBD
• Cost: TBD
• Funding source: Williamson County 2023 road bond

• Timeline: 2022-26 (total project)
• Cost: $677 million allocated for the entire project
• Funding source: TxDOT