Free & Reduced Meals

Free & Reduced Meal Applications 

Free and Reduced Meal Applications are now available.

Free and reduced price meals are available to families who believe they may qualify. A new application must be completed each year. Only one application per household needs to be completed. The meal application is available online. The process is safe, secure, private, and available anytime, anywhere. Paper applications are available at each school or the Education Services Center and can be returned at any school or the Education Services Center. The information you give will be used to determine your child's eligibility for free or reduced priced meals. This information may also be used for other state or federally funded school benefits.

New students to the district will need to fill out an application in order to receive benefits. Meal status does not carry with a child from one district to another.   

Factors considered in the application process are household size and total gross household income. Household size is considered all persons, related or unrelated: including parents, children, grandparents who live in your home and share living expenses. Gross income is the income received before taxes - this includes wages, social security, pension, unemployment, welfare, child support, alimony, and any other cash income.

An email is sent after the determination is made. If the email is unsendable, a letter will be mailed home. It is the parent/guardian's responsibility to ensure all children from the household have been certified. If children are missing from the letter, they are likely not certified and are being charged for meals. Any incurred meal charges are the responsibility of the parent/guardian.   

Automatic Qualification

Foster children are categorically eligible for free meal benefits. An application is not needed yet there does need to be documentation of status by a state or local entity familiar with the child's status. Foster children may be included in the household application as part of the household size. Once a child is adopted, they are no longer eligible for automatic free meals as a "foster child." Children living with relatives are not considered foster unless deemed so by court. 

SNAP and TANF recipients do qualify for automatic free meals. You should receive an email from us stating that you are automatically qualified for meal benefits. If the email you receive does not reflect all students in your household, please contact our office at 317-773-3171.

Medicaid does not automatically qualify a student. The child must match directly with the state's database in order to qualify. If a match is not made, an application is required. Please review: Medicaid FAQ for parents