Free & Reduced Meals

Children serving themselves from the salad bar

Meal Benefit Application

Households are encouraged to complete a child nutrition meal benefit application to determine if they would qualify for free or reduced priced meals.  Determination is based on income guidelines set by USDA. 

Important Reminders about Meal Benefits

  • Households must apply each school year to see if they qualify for meal benefits.  
  • Families who do not qualify for meal benefits will be responsible for paying for their child(ren)'s meals. 
  • Benefits start the day the application is approved.  Households are responsible for meal charges prior to approval of meal benefits.
Ways to Apply for Meal Benefits after July 1st -  Letter to Households:  English/Spanish
  • School Cafe - online application  
    • Instructions for how to apply online on SchoolCafe for school meal benefits: English / Spanish
    • Instructions for how to register an account on SchoolCafe: English / Spanish
    • Instructions on how to find Meal Benefit Notification Letters in School Cafe:  English/Spanish
  • Paper Application -
    • If unable to apply online, a paper child nutrition meal benefit application can be completed and mailed to Student Nutrition Services office:  English / Spanish

Consent for Disclosure - Giving Permission to Share Meal Benefit Status

If your family qualifies for meal benefits (free or reduced-price meals), you can also fill out a Consent for Disclosure form which allows Student Nutrition Services Department to share your meal benefit status with other school programs, like:

  • The school office – to reduce or waive instructional fees
  • The bus company – for reduced transportation fees

You only need to complete the form once, and it can save your family time and money.

Ways to Complete Consent:
  • Online - Click Here for the form
  • Paper - English / Spanish  - Send completed form to Student Nutrition Services Office.

Schoolcafe Website

Monitor student meal accounts by visiting SchoolCafé. You’ll need to set up username and password (Instructions English / Spanish). There are multiple benefits to this new software including the ability to:

  • Apply for meal benefits (free and reduced) - instructions English / Spanish
  • Check status of meal benefits application and view/print meal benefit notifications
  • View Menus with nutrient and allergen information
  • View your child's account balance anytime.
  • See exactly what a la carte items are being purchased.
  • Set limits on a la carte purchases.

Meal Payment Info

Payments for meals can be made multiple ways.

  • Send check or cash to the school with the student marked as lunch money - no transaction fee.
  • Pay online via E funds - Choose Optional Fees to add funds to meal accounts, $3.00 transaction fee.
  • Pay by phone by calling the Student Nutrition Services office - 7am to 4pm - 913-993-9710, no transaction fee.

donations

If your are interested in making a donation to help struggling families pay for school meals, click the button above to provide information for a representative of Student Nutrition Services to contact you.