Benefits of Free and Reduced School Meals Program
School breakfast and lunch is critical to student health and well-being and ensures that students have nutrition they need throughout the day to learn. Research shows that receiving free or reduced price school meals reduces food insecurity, obesity rates, and poor health. In addition, the new school meal nutrition standards are having a positive impact on student food selection and consumption, especially for fruits and vegetables.
The free and reduced meal program is offered to all students, Pre-K through 12th grade. The eligibility scale to receive free or reduced price meals is based on household size and income. In fact, the USDA has adjusted this year’s eligibility scale to allow more families to qualify.
There are many families in the community that are eligible to receive free or reduced price school meals, but may not be receiving these financial benefits. Children in households that receive SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), WIC, Medicaid, TANF, FDPIR, and most foster children can receive free or reduced meals by completing the program application.
Applications can be completed online through the Parent Portal (select Lunchroom Application) or download it on the school website. Paper application copies can also be obtained from each school site secretary or the Child Nutrition office, located in Perry High School, room 105.
A new application must be submitted every year. Application submissions are preferred at the beginning of the school year to ensure the school maintains state funding assistance and can appropriately plan and budget for students in the future. However, free and reduced applications are accepted throughout the year. If your income changes, at any time, you are welcome to re-apply.
The free and reduced program supports more than just meals for students. Every completed application contributes to helping our school qualify for additional funding from the federal government to help support teaching and learning. Those funds directly impact every district program and department, including instruction, athletics, technology, etc.
Even if you do not wish to have your child participate in the free or reduced price meals program, we encourage you to complete and submit an application to benefit the school district. Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed and you will be notified if you qualify or not.
We treat your student's participation in the free/reduced meal program as highly confidential. All students eating school cafeteria meals receive the same lunch cards, meals, etc.
Students who qualify for this program are eligible to receive many other benefits, such as SNAP, ACT fee waiver, college application fee waiver, community resources, and discounts on some phone/internet provider services.
If you are already on SNAP, you can automatically qualify by entering your SNAP case number. Please complete the top portion of the application with student name, grade, birthdate, SNAP case number, and parent/guardian signature.
For questions, please contact Dr. Andrea Rains with the Perry Schools Child Nutrition Department at 580-336-3203 or email [email protected].