Free & Reduced Meal Application

Fill out the application if:

• Total household income is the same or less than the amount on the chart below.
• You receive Basic Food, take part in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) for your children.
• You are applying for foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court.

Be sure to submit only one application per household. You will be notified if the application is approved or denied. If any child you are applying for is homeless (McKinney-Vento), or migrant, check the appropriate box on the application.

HOUSEHOLD is defined as all persons, including parents, children, grandparents, and all people related or unrelated who live in your home and share living expenses. If applying for a household with a foster child, you may include the foster child in the total household size.

HOUSEHOLD INCOME is considered to be the income each household member received before taxes. This includes wages, social security, pension, unemployment, welfare, child support, alimony, and any other cash income. If including a foster child as part of the household, you must also include the foster child’s personal income. Do not report foster payments as income.

If you have additional questions please call Food and Nutritional Services at: (360) 443-3664.

If your family meets the income guidelines above, complete an application online using LINQ Connect or download a paper copy. Links for both methods are available above.

Household members do not have to be US Citizens for children to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Households may apply for benefits at any time during the school year.

Yes, a new application must be filled out every school year to ensure that your students receive all benefits associated with Free and Reduced Meals.

If your family is directly qualified by your participation in Department of Social and Health Services programs like EBT and some Medicaid programs, your family may automatically qualify. You will receive an email confirming your eligibility from the school district once your family is approved. If you don't see an approval letter, please contact the Food and Nutrition Service office or submit a new application.

You will receive an approval letter via email at the email address on file with your school. If you did not receive a letter or have questions regarding your eligibility, call the Food and Nutrition Service department at (360) 443-3664.

Letters are sent directly to the email we have on file and are also available via Skyward Family Access. If you do not have an email address, we will mail a hard copy to you at the mailing address we have on file.

Standard meal prices for the 2023-2024 School year are listed below:

2023-2024 Meal Prices

Yes, some schools qualify as "Free Meal Sites".

Yes, Free and Reduced applications are still important to maintain school benefits and to continue to receive school-wide free meals. Free and Reduced applications are important for more than just school meal benefits. Families on meal benefits are also eligible for waved course fees, additional EBT funds in the summertime, and many more resources.

If your school qualified as a free meal site via House Bill 1238 (Hidden Creek Elementary, Orchard Heights Elementary, Sidney Glen Elementary): Complete a standard meal application through LINQ Connect.

If your school qualified as a free meal site via CEP (East Port Orchard Elementary, Marcus Whitman Middle School, Discovery High School): Complete a Family Income Survey.