Sign your child up for free, reduced-price meals at school
Your children could be eligible for free or reduced-price meals at school through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
Both programs are designed to promote the health and well-being of children by providing nutritious meals to children in public and private schools and residential child care institutions.
How do I know if my children are eligible?
Your household income will determine if your children are eligible.
The eligibility guidelines are intended to direct benefits to those children most in need.
For example, the 2011-12 guidelines specify that if you’re in a family of four, your children are eligible for free meals if your household’s pre-tax income is no more than $29,055, or $2,422 a month.
This year’s guidelines specify that if you’re in a family of four, your children are eligible for reduced-price meals if your household’s pre-tax income is no more than $41,348, or $3,446 a month.
How do I apply?
Any time throughout the school year, ask for a National School Lunch/School Breakfast Program application at your children’s school. Fill it out and return it to school personnel. Depending on your circumstances, you will need to provide your child’s name, the names of all household members, income by source for all household members, and an adult family member’s signature.
What happens if my children are eligible?
They will be able to eat lunch at school for free or for a reduced price. Also, if your children are eligible for either free or reduced-price meals, they can eat breakfast at school for free. Plus, children in kindergarten through third grade who qualify for reduced-price meals can eat lunch for free.
What can you tell me about the food schools serve at breakfast and lunch?
All meals must meet federal food guidelines and must contain one-third of the recommended dietary intake for protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. The meals also must have no more than 30 percent of calories from fat and no more than 10 percent of the calories from saturated fat.
Students who are identified as disabled with special dietary requirements by their doctor may eat substitute foods at no extra charge.
Return to the E-Voice Newsletter for the North-East Region
Both programs are designed to promote the health and well-being of children by providing nutritious meals to children in public and private schools and residential child care institutions.
How do I know if my children are eligible?
Your household income will determine if your children are eligible.
The eligibility guidelines are intended to direct benefits to those children most in need.
For example, the 2011-12 guidelines specify that if you’re in a family of four, your children are eligible for free meals if your household’s pre-tax income is no more than $29,055, or $2,422 a month.
This year’s guidelines specify that if you’re in a family of four, your children are eligible for reduced-price meals if your household’s pre-tax income is no more than $41,348, or $3,446 a month.
How do I apply?
Any time throughout the school year, ask for a National School Lunch/School Breakfast Program application at your children’s school. Fill it out and return it to school personnel. Depending on your circumstances, you will need to provide your child’s name, the names of all household members, income by source for all household members, and an adult family member’s signature.
What happens if my children are eligible?
They will be able to eat lunch at school for free or for a reduced price. Also, if your children are eligible for either free or reduced-price meals, they can eat breakfast at school for free. Plus, children in kindergarten through third grade who qualify for reduced-price meals can eat lunch for free.
What can you tell me about the food schools serve at breakfast and lunch?
All meals must meet federal food guidelines and must contain one-third of the recommended dietary intake for protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. The meals also must have no more than 30 percent of calories from fat and no more than 10 percent of the calories from saturated fat.
Students who are identified as disabled with special dietary requirements by their doctor may eat substitute foods at no extra charge.
Return to the E-Voice Newsletter for the North-East Region
