School Meals

Why am I being asked to complete a Free & Reduced Meals Application this year?
For the 2026-2027 school year, all SJSD families must complete a Free & Reduced Meals Application to be considered for meal assistance. In previous years, many schools participated in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allowed all students at those schools to receive meals at no cost without an application. That program is not available for our schools this year.

Do I need to complete an application if my child received free meals last year?
Yes. Previous eligibility does not automatically carry over. Families who wish to be considered for meal assistance for the 2026-2027 school year must submit a new application. 

Meal benefits begin on the day the application is approved in the school office and continues throughout the school year and approximately the first thirty school days of the next school year. Any student who does not have a current application on file will be unable to receive free/reduced meal benefits after thirty school days into the new school year.

How do I apply?
Families can complete the application online through SchoolCafe on the district's website. You have to create an account with SchoolCafe and have our student's ID number to apply online. Paper applications are available upon request.

What information will I need to complete the application?
You may be asked to provide:

• Names of all household members
• Income information for household members
• SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR case numbers (if applicable)
• Contact information

Does completing an application guarantee my child will receive free or reduced-price meals?
No. Eligibility is determined based on federal guidelines and the information provided on the application.

Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
No. Complete one application for all students in your household. A new application must be submitted each school year. Be sure to complete all required sections, as incomplete applications cannot be approved.

Who can get free and reduced-price meals?

• All children in households receiving benefits from the Food Stamp Program/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or Temporary Assistance/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), are eligible for free meals.
• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
• Children participating in their school's Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
• Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household's income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or reduced price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines

Household Size	Annually	Monthly	Weekly
1	$29,526	$2,461	$568
2	40,034	3,337	770
3	50,542	4,212	972
4	61,050	5,088	1,175
5	71,558	5,964	1,377
6	82,066	6,839	1,579
7	92,574	7,715	1,781
8	103,082	8,591	1,983
For each additional person add	+10,508	+876	+203

What is the maximum price that can be charged for a reduced-price meal?
The maximum price for a reduced-price lunch is 40 cents, the maximum price for a reduced-price breakfast is 30 cents, and the maximum price for a reduced-price afterschool snack is 15 cents.

I received a letter stating that my child qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. Do I need to complete an application?
If you received a current-year Direct Certification letter indicating that your child is approved for free meals, you do not need to complete a new application. Please review the letter carefully to ensure all eligible students in your household are listed. Contact Nutrition Services if you have questions.

I receive WIC benefits. Can my child receive free meals?
Participation in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program does not automatically qualify a child for free meals. However, children in households receiving WIC benefits may qualify based on household income. Complete the application to determine eligibility. 

If I do not qualify now, may I apply later?
Yes. You may apply for meal benefits at any time during the school year if your household circumstances change.

May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
Yes. Citizenship or immigration status does not affect a child's eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.

Who should I include as members of my household?
Include:

• Yourself
• All children living in your home
• Any other people living in your household, whether related or not

What if my income is not always the same?
List your usual income before taxes and deductions. If your income varies from month to month, contact Nutrition Services for guidance on how to report it accurately.

Are applications available in other languages?
Yes. Applications are available in English and Spanish and may be available in additional languages upon request.

Why do I need to provide a Social Security number and sign the application?
These sections are required by federal regulations. Applications that are missing required information cannot be processed.

When will my student's application be approved?
Please allow up to 10 business days for processing. Until eligibility is determined, families are responsible for paying for meals.

Will the information I give be checked?
Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.

What is Direct Certification?
Direct Certification allows eligible students to receive free meal benefits automatically based on information provided through qualifying state assistance programs. Families of eligible students will receive notification from the district.

How do I know if my student is Directly Certified?
Families of eligible students will receive a Direct Certification notification from the district. If you believe your child qualifies but did not receive notification, contact Nutrition Services. 

If one child in my household is Directly Certified, are my other children eligible as well?
In many cases, yes. If you receive a Direct Certification notice and believe additional children in your household should be included, contact Nutrition Services.

Are there other benefits to completing the application?
Possibly. Eligibility for free or reduced-price meals may help families qualify for other programs or services, see examples below:

• Free or reduced-price meals
• Discounted college application fees
• Fee waivers for SAT / ACT / PSAT exams
• Dual credit assistance
• Discounted internet and phone services
• SUN Bucks (Summer EBT)

Why was my child's application denied?
To understand why an application is denied, it is important to know how the application is reviewed. Applications are reviewed based on federal criteria in three different areas:

1. SNAP or TANF families automatically qualify for free meals if a food stamp number is provided on the application.
2. Foster children, who are placed in a home by the state, automatically qualify for free meals provided this information is on the application.
3. Income-based eligibility is determined by household size and monthly household income.

If the application does not meet the federal income guidelines, or if the application is not correctly completed, then it may be denied. Contact Nutrition Services with questions.

Why was my child's application selected for income verification?
Federal guidelines require all sponsors of the National School Lunch program to conduct income verification on a pre-selected percentage of all applications on file as of October 1st of each year. Applications at each school site are randomly selected for verification by using district-approved procedures. Within a specified time period, parents/guardians must provide adequate documentation to substantiate income. If information is not provided, the student(s) will lose free or reduced-price meal benefits.

How can I make a deposit on my child's account, check their account balance, or track history of food purchases?
Prepaying for breakfast, lunch and/or ala carte items is an efficient way to pay for your student's school meals. Meals may be paid either by check, cash or money order. The school Nutrition Services cashier will provide a friendly reminder when your child's account balance is getting low, but it is always helpful for parents to keep track of the meals and snacks their child purchases. Parents/Guardians can set up an account through SchoolCafe to access their child's account to view account balance and activity only. Prepaying must be done at the child's school site.

How can I limit what my child can purchase from his/her account?
A child's account can be blocked from ala carte purchases at the parent's request. The “block” will allow the account to only be used for full meals and will remain in effect until the cafeteria manager is contacted to remove this block. Parents/Guardians should send written instruction to the cafeteria manager at the school their child attends to request this service.

What is the charge policy for the Nutrition Services Department?
Low balance notices are sent home with elementary students at least once a week. A verbal notice is given to middle/high school students when account is low on funds. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to monitor student accounts online through SchoolCafe. Parents are also encouraged to pre-pay at the child's school so accounts do not become delinquent. Ala carte items may never be charged.

How do I receive a refund on my students account?
Refunds will be made by the Nutrition Services office only when a student is either leaving the district or graduating. “Request for Refund” forms must be completed and sent to:

Nutrition Services Office
1000 South 9th Street
St. Joseph, MO 64503

Refunds will only be paid to the parent/guardian listed in the student information file. Refunds will be made for amounts over $5.00 in the form of a check issued by the Nutrition Services office and sent to the address listed on the “Request for Refund” form. Students are encouraged to zero out their accounts prior to graduation/leaving the district and the school may establish a policy of accepting cash from these graduating students 1-2 weeks prior to graduation to assist the students in this effort.

Who determines the lunch time periods for my child's school?
Each individual school principal establishes meal times. Federal guidelines state that lunch periods shall occur between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Breakfast is usually served 30 minutes prior to the school day beginning. Federal guidelines also state that there needs to be at least 2 hours from the end of breakfast to the beginning of lunch. Schools are encouraged to provide an adequate number of lunch periods that are sufficient in length to ensure all students have an opportunity to be served and a reasonable amount of time to eat their meals.

Who writes the menu for the Nutrition Services Department?
All menus must follow the National School Breakfast and Lunch requirements for food items, portion sizes and nutritional requirements. Feedback is also received through managers, students and staff.

How does the Nutrition Services Department handle special diets or allergies?
Special diets and food allergies (including milk allergies) require a special diet form from a certified doctor to be on file with the school cafeteria manager. A new form is required each school year and should be sent to the cafeteria manager at the school your child attends. A memo will be placed on your child's account to remind the cashier of the allergy or special diet. Questions or concerns should be directed to the Nutrition Services office.

Why do adults pay more for their meals than the students?
The district receives federal reimbursement for meals served to children only. The value of this reimbursement plus any donated commodities must not be used to subsidize adult meals.

How do I become an employee for the Nutrition Services Department?
The department is looking for enthusiastic, hardworking individuals who are compassionate in working with our children. Applications may be obtained at 1000 South 9th Street, St. Joseph.