Free and Reduced Meal Information
The National School Lunch Program (NLSP) provides per meal cash reimbursements to schools as an entitlement to provide nutritious meals to children. This means that all eligible schools may participate and all children attending those schools may participate. The NLSP provides school children with one-third or more of their Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for key nutrients. These lunches are required to provide no more than 30 percent of calories from fat and less than 10 percent from saturated fat. USDA research indicates that children who participate in School Lunch have superior nutritional intakes compared to those who do not participate.
All public and non-profit private schools (regardless of tuition) and all Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs) can participate in the National School Lunch Program. School boards must apply to their state education agency in order to institute a program. All students in these schools may participate in the lunch program. However, household income determines whether they receive free meals, reduced price meals (the maximum price to the student’s family is 40 cents), or “paid” meals, for which students pay most of the cost (the federal government pays a modest amount for administrative costs).
For children at participating schools there are two ways to qualify for free or reduced price meals in the NSLP. Both generally require the household to fill out a school meals application and return it to the child’s school.
If a household currently receives Food Stamps, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or participates in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) the children in that household are eligible for free school meals for as long as the family receives these other benefits. This is called categorical eligibility. Homeless, runaway and migrant children are also automatically eligible for free school meals.
If a household’s total income is below a certain amount, the children in that household can eat free meals price. To receive free meals, household income must fall below 185 percent of poverty. This is called income-based eligibility. Please fill out the application for meal benefits as soon as possible.
Some school districts use “direct certification” to qualify children for free meals without requiring the family to submit an application. In these districts, the school works with the State or local Food Stamp, TANF, and FDPIR agencies to identify and certify for school meals (without additional applications) those children in households currently receiving these benefits.
Traditional application forms can be obtained from any school cafeteria manager, school main office, or by contacting:
Jan Notch at 320-746-4328 or jan.notch@isd738.org
All public and non-profit private schools (regardless of tuition) and all Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCIs) can participate in the National School Lunch Program. School boards must apply to their state education agency in order to institute a program. All students in these schools may participate in the lunch program. However, household income determines whether they receive free meals, reduced price meals (the maximum price to the student’s family is 40 cents), or “paid” meals, for which students pay most of the cost (the federal government pays a modest amount for administrative costs).
For children at participating schools there are two ways to qualify for free or reduced price meals in the NSLP. Both generally require the household to fill out a school meals application and return it to the child’s school.
If a household currently receives Food Stamps, TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), or participates in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) the children in that household are eligible for free school meals for as long as the family receives these other benefits. This is called categorical eligibility. Homeless, runaway and migrant children are also automatically eligible for free school meals.
If a household’s total income is below a certain amount, the children in that household can eat free meals price. To receive free meals, household income must fall below 185 percent of poverty. This is called income-based eligibility. Please fill out the application for meal benefits as soon as possible.
Some school districts use “direct certification” to qualify children for free meals without requiring the family to submit an application. In these districts, the school works with the State or local Food Stamp, TANF, and FDPIR agencies to identify and certify for school meals (without additional applications) those children in households currently receiving these benefits.
Traditional application forms can be obtained from any school cafeteria manager, school main office, or by contacting:
Jan Notch at 320-746-4328 or jan.notch@isd738.org