Free and Reduced-Priced Meals and Educational Benefits

Children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and foster children can get free school meals without reporting household income. Enter a current case number on the Application for Education Benefits form.

Also, children can get free or reduced-price school meals if their household income is within the maximum income shown for their household size on the instructions. Approval for school meal benefits is good for the school year.

If your application is approved as free status:

• There is no charge for meals
• Ala Carte or any extras items will be charged at full price
• Extracurricular activity charges will be waived or reduced, such as athletics, fine arts, community education or other programs associated with Spring Lake Park Schools

If your application is approved as reduced status:

• There is no charge for meals
• Ala Carte or any extras items will be charged at full price
• Extracurricular activity charges will be reduced, such as athletics, fine arts, community education or other programs associated with Spring Lake Park Schools

If your application is denied:

• Meals will be charged at full price
• Parents/guardians are responsible for keeping adequate funds in the account for all purchases
• You may reapply if you find there was an error on the original application and/or if your household circumstances change (proof will be required for any changes)

You will receive a letter in the mail with the status of your application. Please keep this letter for your records. If your student qualifies for free or reduced meals you may receive a reduced rate for athletic fees, community programs and bussing.

Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens for your children to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Include yourself and all other people living in the household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives or friends). Include a household member who is temporarily away, such as a college student.

List the amount that you normally get. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you get it only occasionally.

Information you provide on the form, and your child's approval for school meal benefits, will be protected as private data. 

Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof.

You may apply for these benefits at any time during the school year if your circumstances have changed.

                                     2021-2022 income guidelines, effective July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information on this application. You do not have to give this information but if you do not, we cannot approve your child for free or reduced-price school meals. You must include the last four digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application. The last four digits of the Social Security number are not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child, or you provide an MFIP, SNAP or FDPIR assistance number, or you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a Social Security Number.

We will use your information to determine if your child qualifies for free school meals, and for administration and enforcement of the school meal programs. We may share your information with other education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules.

Children who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals may qualify for Minnesota Health Care Programs. Your child’s status for school meals may be shared with Minnesota Health Care Programs unless you tell us not to share your information by checking the box in Step 5 of the application. You are not required to share information for this purpose and your decision will not affect approval for school meal benefits.

Children who are eligible for free and reduced-price school meals may be eligible for Minnesota health insurance programs. Your child’s eligibility status for school meals (qualified for free or reduced-price meals) may be shared with the MinnesotaCare and General Assistance Medical Care programs unless you tell us not to share your information by checking the boxes in section 5 of the application. You are not required to share information for this purpose and your decision will not affect approval for school meal benefits.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail to U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or (2) fax to (202) 690-7442; or (3) email to program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.