LETTER TO HOUSEHOLD – 06/2025

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Children need healthy meals to learn.  Shawnee Mission School District offers healthy meals every school day. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals.

Meal Charges	Elementary		Middle School		High School
	Full Price	Reduced Price	Full Price	Reduced Price	Full Price	Reduced Price
Lunch	2.85	.40	3.00	.40	3.00	.40
Breakfast	1.55	.30	1.65	.30	1.65	.30
After School Snack	0	0	0	0	0	0

 

 

 

 

 

An application for free or reduced priced meal benefits and a set of detailed instructions is included with this letter or available online at Schoolcafe.com/SHAWNEEMISSION.  Contact SMSD Student Nutrition Services, by phone at 913-993-9710 or in person at 6701 W 83^rd St, Overland Park, KS 66204 with questions or to request an application be sent. Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process. 

1.    WHO CAN GET FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS?

•  All children in households receiving benefits from Food Assistance (FA), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or Temporary Assistance for Families (TAF) are eligible for free meals.
• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
• Children may receive free or reduced priced meals based on certain Medicaid benefits or if your household income is within the limits of the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or reduced priced meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

 

FEDERAL ELIGIBILITY INCOME CHART for School Year 2025-2026
Household size	Yearly	Monthly	Weekly
1	28,953	2,413	557
2	39,128	3,261	753
3	49,303	4,109	949
4	59,478	4,957	1,144
5	69,653	5,805	1,340
6	79,828	6,653	1,536
7	90,003	7,501	1,731
8	100,178	8,349	1,927
Each additional person:	10,175	848	196

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.    HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDREN QUALIFY AS homeless, MIGRANT, OR RUNAWAY? Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are there any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please call or e-mail Robert Shackelford, 8200 W 71^st St, Overland Park, KS 66204 or Robertshackelford@smsd.org 913-993-6200.

3.    DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD?  No. Use one Free and Reduced Priced School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to: SMSD, Student Nutrition Services, 6701 W 83^rd St, Overland Park, KS 66204, 913-993-9710.  Online applications can be found and submitted at Schoolcafe.com/SHAWNEEMISSON.

4.    SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE ALREADY APPROVED FOR FREE MEALS?  No, but please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact SMSD, Student Nutrition Services 6701 W 83^rd St, Overland Park, KS 66204, 913-993-9710 immediately.

5.    CAN I APPLY ONLINE? Yes.  You are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application if you are able. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Visit Schoolcafe.com/SHAWNEEMISSON to begin or to learn more about the online application process. Contact SMSD Student Nutrition Services, 6701 W 83^rd St, Overland Park, KS 66204, 913-993-9710 if you have any questions about the online application.

6.    MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR.  DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE?  Yes.  Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year, through 9/24/2025.  You must send in a new application unless the school tells you that your child is eligible for the new school year.  If you do not send in a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible for free meals, your child will be charged the full price for meals. 

7.    I GET WIC.  CAN MY CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS?  Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced priced meals.  Please send an application.

8.    WILL THE INFORMATION I GIVE BE CHECKED? Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.

9.    IF I DON'T QUALIFY NOW, MAY I APPLY LATER?  Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year.  For example, children with a parent or guardian who become unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced priced meals if the household income drops below the income limit.

10.    WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE SCHOOL'S DECISION ABOUT MY APPLICATION? You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Dr David Stubblefield 8200 W 71^st, Overland Park, KS 66204, 913-993-6200.

11.    MAY I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSEHOLD IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN? Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced priced meals. 

12.    WHAT IF MY INCOME IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month.  If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes.  If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.

13.    WHAT IF SOME HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE NO INCOME TO REPORT? Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeros. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.

14.    WE ARE IN THE MILITARY, DO WE REPORT OUR INCOME DIFFERENTLY? Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.

15.    WHAT IF THERE ISN’T ENOUGH SPACE ON THE APPLICATION FOR MY FAMILY?  List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper and attach it to your application. Contact SMSD Student Nutrition Services, at 6701 W 83^rd St, Overland Park, KS 66204, 913-993-9710 to receive a second application.

16.    MY FAMILY NEEDS MORE HELP. ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS WE MIGHT APPLY FOR? To find out how to apply for Food Assistance (FA) or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 1-888-369-4777.

If you have any other questions or need help, call 913-993-9710.

Sincerely, Grace I Liss, Director of Student Nutrition Services

Monitor student meal accounts by visiting SchoolCafé. 

• Apply for meal benefits (free and reduced) 
• 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.
• Do all this by setting up a user name and password via registration on SchoolCafé.

To Register for an Account

1. Select 'Create a new account'.
2. Select "I’m a Parent" and select Next.
3. Enter your name and contact information, then select Next.
4. Create a username and password you will easily remember, and confirm the password.
5. Set up a security question and answer (in case you forget your login credentials) and select Next.
6. Read and accept the Terms & Conditions, then select Create Account

Password Reset*

Contact Info 

• Phone: 855.PAY-2-EAT - (855) 729-2328
• Email: customercare@schoolcafe.com 

*Note: For security purposes, you may be asked to verify your contact info, including your security answer, when you request help.

To Add a Student:

1. Enter your student’s information as requested.
2. Select Find Student.
3. Verify the student found is accurate and select Add Student.

How to Apply for Meal Benefits on School Cafe

1. Sign in to your School Cafe Account
2. On the left menu, click Eligibility Benefits and then click Apply
3. Select your preferred language.
4. Begin the application for Free & Reduced Meals by certifying your information is correct or by editing the information.
5. Enter Household & Student Information
6. Add Students to Your Application - Add each student who will be included in the meal application.
7. Add Additional Household Members- Include all household members 
8. Enter Additional Details - Provide information such as income, foster status, or homelessness status if applicable.  Income amounts can be adjusted as needed.
9. Provide Assistance Information - Enter any information about financial assistance you receive.  Enter case numbers where required.
10. Navigate Through the Application.  You may return to previous steps at any time to make corrections.
11. Review & Certify Your Information - Review household info, assistance info, and selected students.  Certify that all information is correct.
12.  Enter the last four digits of your Social Security number if required.
13.  Submit your completed application.
14.  Digitally sign the application.
15.  Submit Your Application
16. After submission, you will receive a copy you can print or download.

If unable to apply online, a paper child nutrition meal benefit application can be completed and mailed to Student Nutrition Services office: 

Click here for the English paper application

Click here for the Spanish paper application 

Consent for Disclosure - Giving Permission to Share Meal Benefit Status

If your family qualifies for meal benefits (free or reduced-price meals), you can click here to fill out an online 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.

If unable to complete the online form, a paper form can be printed - 

Click here for the paper English Consent for Disclosures 

Click here for paper Spanish Consent for Disclosures  

Send completed paper application and consent for disclosures to the Student Nutrition Services Office at 6701 W 83rd St, Overland Park, KS 66204.

More information to come.

Important Reminders about Meal Benefits

• Households must apply each school year to see if they qualify for meal benefits.  Apply Online on SchoolCafe or via a paper application.
• 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.

• 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