This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications
FREE AND REDUCED MEAL BENEFIT APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE 2024/2025 SCHOOL YEAR.
Through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), families who qualify are eligible to receive a free or reduced lunch meal for their student during the upcoming school year.
Applying online is fast, Easy, Private, Safe and Secure.
Complete a short, online application at SchoolCafe (www.schoolcafe.com) if you have not created a SchoolCafe account, you will need to do so in order to access the form). We request all SAISD families complete the form to determine eligibility before the start of the school year. Once logged into your SchoolCafe account, click on the "Dashboard" tab on the lefthand side, and then select the "Apply for Benefits" tab to complete the online application.
For even easier access, download the SchoolCafe app from Google Play or the Apple App store.
See how quick and easy it is to apply by watching the short walkthrough video below.
If you apply online – DO NOT complete a paper application
- If needed, paper applications are available at your school office, Child Nutrition Office at 305 Baker Street or you may print one from our website.
- If you choose to complete a paper application, return it to your school office, 305 Baker Street, or fax to 325-658-4353.
- If you need additional assistance, please email Kelly Graf at Kelly.Graf@saisd.org or call the Child Nutrition office at 325-659-3615
You will be notified by mail of your child's status. Until notification, you must provide your child with a lunch or lunch money.
Only one application needs to be completed per household. Your application may mean both free or lower priced meals for your child and more federal and state dollars directed to your child’s school and district
In addition to free or reduced meals, eligible students may also qualify for:
- Additional federal and state dollars directed to your child’s school and district,
- Helps families qualify for Pandemic EBT benefits,
- Materials for schools like Chromebooks, iPads, hotspots for internet service, and take-home to read book packs,
- support from community and school service organizations,
- discounted fees for student testing for Advanced Placement (AP), SAT or ACT tests,
- reduced costs for college application fees, and
- help in securing low-cost internet rates and services.
Student eligibility numbers for schools are also a factor in school qualification for money for supplies and materials needed at the campus.
Eligibility Requirements
In order for a student to receive free or reduced-price meals, they and their families need to meet some of the criteria below, including:
- Income Eligibility: Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels
- Categorical or Automatic Eligibility: Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
- Program Participant Eligibility: Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster
- Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start
Factors considered in the application process are household size and total household income. HOUSEHOLD SIZE is considered all persons, related or unrelated: Including parents, children, grandparents who live in your home and share living expenses. The TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME is the income each household member received last month before taxes - this includes wages, social security, pension, unemployment, welfare, child support, alimony, and any other cash income.
Foster children are categorically eligible for free meal benefits. Foster children may be included in the household application as part of the household size.
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
San Angelo ISD will operate the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2024-2025 school year at seven (7) qualifying campuses. CEP is a simplified meal service option that allows schools to provide meals at no cost to all students at qualifying campuses, without requiring families to apply for free and reduced-price meals. Instead, these campuses in school districts receive federal funding based on a formula using existing data from SNAP and other programs, and local or state funds must fill any gap between program costs and federal support. Schools qualifying to operate CEP serve breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals. This approach reduces burdens for both families and school administrators and helps ensure that students receive nutritious meals. SAISD’s CEP campuses for the 2024-25 school year include Bradford, Fannin, Goliad, Reagan, San Jacinto, Lincoln, and Lake View. CEP benefits are based on campus eligibility and not household eligibilities. Benefits cannot be extended to students outside of qualified campuses.
If you do not wish to apply online, or do not have access to pick-up an application at your campus office, please click here to download and print the application. Return the completed application to the Child Nutrition Services office at 305 Baker St., San Angelo, TX 76903.
Free and Reduced Meal Application FAQs
- What measures can I take to expedite my applications approval?
- Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
- Who can receive free meals?
- Have the eligibility guidelines changed from last school year?
- Can homeless, runaway and migrant children get free meals?
- I got a letter saying my children are approved for free meals for this school year. Should I fill out an application?
- Who can receive Reduced Price meals?
- I receive WIC (Women, Infants and Children) benefits. Can my child get free meals?
- Will the information I give be checked?
- If I don't qualify now, may I apply later?
- What if I disagree with the school's decision about my application?
- May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
- Who should I include as members of my household?
- What if my income is not always the same?
- Are applications available in other languages?
- Why is it necessary to use the same name as it appears on the Birth Certificate?
- Why do you list All Other Household Members?
- Why do I need to fill out Social Security Number and sign the application?
- If I have more than one student going to school in the School District do I need to fill out more than one application?
- If I have a student living at home that goes to a private school, charter school, or Pre-K school, should I include them on the application?
- What is Direct Certification?
- How do you know if your Student is Direct Certified?
- If one student is Direct Certified, in a household, are the remaining students also Direct Certified?