Free and Reduced Price Meals
While the USDA is no longer providing free meals to all students, your children may be eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals. Families are encouraged to submit a meal application that schools will use to determine a child’s eligibility for free and reduced-price meals.
All families are encouraged to submit an application anytime during the school year if your child is not attending a CEP campus. A new application must be submitted each school year.
Applying for this benefit is easy and confidential using our online application at SchoolCafe.com.
Paper applications will be available at your child's school in August or at the School Nutrition Office, 3623 Highpoint Street, San Antonio, TX 78217 or 210-356-9113.
All applicants will be advised of their approval status by mail. Processing may take up to 10 days during the first few weeks of school.
Note: It is not necessary to complete a paper application if you apply online. Please help us expedite application processing by submitting only one application for your household.
Online Application
THE ONLINE APPLICATION IS NOW AVAILABLE
You will need the following information to apply online:
- Child’s name as it appears on birth certificate
- Child's school name & grade level
- Child's student ID number
- Household before-tax income or SNAP/TANF number
Families applying for children that are qualified foster, homeless, migrant, runaway or participating in Head Start may not be required to provide household income.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.