Application Free and Reduced-Price School Meals

Starting on July 8, 2025, school districts will begin distributing letters to the households of the children in the district about eligibility benefits and any actions households need to take to apply for these benefits. 

The following criteria will be used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits: 

Income

1.      Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels 

Categorical (Automatic) Eligibility

2.                  Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Program Participant 

3.                  The child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster and the child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start 

Income Eligibility

For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must complete an application for free and reduced-price meals. Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information: Names of all household members, amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member, last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for “No Social Security number” and the signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct

Categorical or Program Eligibility

School districts will work with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible and will notify the households of these children that they do not need to complete an application. 

Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information provided by households on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may also be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, the Child Nutrition Administrative Assistant, Diana Johnson, will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Official’s eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to their local school district.  

Unexpected Circumstances

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the attached current income eligibility guidelines.