
Educational Benefits (Free and Reduced-Price Meals)
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Meal benefits are available for students whose family income meets requirements or for families receiving benefits such as SNAP. Students approved for meal benefits can receive one free breakfast meal and one lunch meal daily. Extra items, such as ala carte items, an extra milk, or milk with lunch from home are not free and the student must have money in their account or cash to purchase these items.
If you think you may qualify or are interested in applying for Free or Reduced Price meal benefits, you can fill out an Application for Educational Benefits. Students who qualify for free or reduced meals may also qualify to receive discounted fees for other district expenses such as bussing or activities. All children in the district benefit in areas beyond the lunch program when qualified applications exceed a certain percentage of the district’s enrollment.
Important Things to Note
- Families must reapply for meal benefits at the beginning of each school year.
- Families who receive SNAP benefits may be directly certified to receive free benefits by the state. If you have been directly certified, we will send you a letter notifying you that we have received certification from the state for your benefits. If you do not receive this letter each year, you must reapply.
- Families that receive MFIP benefits will need to submit an application. These applications will need to submit the case number instead of income.
Educational Benefits (Free and Reduced-Price Meals) Application Process
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Families can apply for Free and Reduced Meal Benefits by either filling out the form online or filling out a paper application.
Paper applications can be picked up at each school, the District Office, or printed from the links on the right. Applications are available in multiple languages.
Apply Online for Free & Reduced Meal Benefits
Where to Submit Completed Applications
You can either bring your application in to your school, the District Office, or mail it to: ISD 194, Attn: Student Nutrition, 17630 Juniper Path, Suite A, Lakeville MN, 55044. We will also accept faxed applications at 952-469-6054 or email a signed and scanned copy to julie.wharton@isd194.org.
Once received, applications will be processed within 10 days. Any charges incurred prior to approval of an application are the responsibility of the family.
P-EBT Program
Lakeville Area Schools families who qualify for educational benefits (free and reduced price meals) are also eligible for additional emergency nutritional benefits through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program.
If your family income has been affected by the pandemic, or you typically qualify for educational benefits (free or reduced price meals) and you have NOT completed an Application for Educational Benefits for this school year, you can still apply and benefit from this program.
Free and Reduced Meal Application Forms
- Application for Educational Benefits (Free or reduced price lunch) (English)
- Solicitud de Beneficios Educativos (Comida gratis oa precio reducido) (Español - Spanish)
- Arjiga Faiidooyinka Waxbarashada (Cuntada Dugsiga Bilaashka ah ama Bilaashka ah) (Somali)
- Cемейной заявки на бесплатное или льготное школьное питание (русский - Russian)
- Demande de Prestations Éducatives (Repas gratuits ou réduits) (Française - French)
- Aplicație pentru Beneficiile educaționale (prânz gratuit sau redus) (Română - Romainian)
- Consent to share information for benefits for other programs form (English)
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who can get free school meals?
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, homeless, migrant and runaway children can get free school meals without reporting household income. Alternatively, children can get free school meals if their household income is within the maximum income shown for their household size on the instructions. An Application for Educational Benefits cannot be approved if any required information is missing.
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I get WIC or Medical Assistance. Can my children get free school meals?
Children in households participating in WIC or Medical Assistance do not automatically qualify for free meals. Children may be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals depending on other household financial information. Please fill out an application.
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Should I fill out an application if I got a letter this school year saying my children were directly certified for Free Meals based on data from the MN Dept. of Human Services?
Do not fill out an Application for Educational Benefits if all of your children have been directly certified for free school meals. If only some of your children were directly certified, you can fill out an Application for Educational Benefits to apply for your children who were not directly certified.
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Will the income information or case number be checked?
Yes, we may ask you to send written proof.
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If I don't qualify now, may I apply later?
Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your income goes down, household size goes up, or if you start getting SNAP, MFIP, or FDPIR benefits.
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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.
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May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. Citizen?
Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens for your children to qualify for free or reduced price meals.
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Who should I include as household members?
You must 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 in the adult section.
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What if my income is not always the same?
List the amount that you normally get. For example, if you normally get $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1000 per month. If you normally receive overtime, include it, but not if you get it only sometimes. For seasonal work, write in the total annual income.
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How will the information I provide be kept?
Information you provide about your household income or public assistance will be protected as private data. Your child’s approval for free or reduced-price meals is also private data. The back page of the Application for Educational Benefits has details about data privacy.
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Do I need to notify school officials if my income increases or my household size decreases after I have qualified for free or reduced price meals?
No. Approval for free or reduced price meals is good for the school year.
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For questions regarding Free & Reduced Benefits, contact:
Julie Wharton
Student Nutrition Support Specialist
952-232-2061
Julie.Wharton@isd194.org
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Lakeville Area Schools is an equal opportunity provider.