Parents who believe their children may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals should complete the forms and return them to their children's schools. Only complete one application per family. The information you give will be used to determine or prove your child's eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals. This information may also be used for other state or federally funded school benefits such as the waiving of test fees, college applications, and sports fees. A new application is required every school year.

Factors considered in the application process

Household size is considered all persons, related or unrelated: Including parents, children, grandparents who live in your home and share living expenses.

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

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.

Parents

Resources are available for Amharic, Arabic, and Spanish speakers. Please Contact School Nutrition Services at 703-619-8048 for available times.

Additional copies of the Free & Reduced Price Meal Benefits Status Letter are available via your student's SchoolCafe account online.

Consent to share information for benefits for other programs (PDF)

For questions regarding Free & Reduced Price Meal Applications and Status Inquiries, please contact Sonya Grant, Administrative Specialist, at sonya.grant@acps.k12.va.us or 703-619-8407.

Community Eligibility Provision

FREE BREAKFAST and LUNCH will be provided to ALL students attending a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school. The schools listed below are identified as CEP schools for SY22-23:

• Cora Kelly • Jefferson Houston PK-8 • Ferdinand T. Day • John Adams/Early Childhood Center (ECC) • Francis C. Hammond • Patrick Henry K-8 • James K. Polk • William Ramsay

Families of students attending these CEP schools DO NOT need to complete the Application for Free and Reduced-Price Meals unless they have other children attending another ACPS school.

What does this mean for you and your child(ren)?

All enrolled students in our school district, regardless of income level, are eligible to receive a healthy school breakfast and school lunch at no charge each day. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application.

The CEP is a new alternative to the traditional meal application process associated with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs. CEP alleviates the burden on families by eliminating household applications, while helping schools reduce costs associated with collecting and processing those applications.

For more information about CEP, please visit USDA.gov/school-meals/communityeligibility-provision