Some families find it impossible to pay for their children's breakfast and lunch at school. If you cannot afford full prices, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has established Family Eligibility Criteria to help pay for meals under the National School Lunch Program.

Family size eligibility standards will be announced publicly before the opening day of school and individual letters explaining program regulations will be sent home to parents on the first day of school.

Schools participating in reimbursed programs are required to serve free/reduced-price meals and free milk to all children from families whose total gross income is at or below the applicable income level (upon receiving an application from the family). The application form is included with the letter.

The application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. The application form should be submitted to the school as soon as possible.

Your child will be treated the same as other children and no one will know who is paying and who is not. In the operation of child feeding programs, no child shall be discriminated against because of race, sex, color or national origin.  

Call 607-637-1320 for more information about Free/Reduced-Price School Meals and/or download the application under the Resources section at right.