National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program and Child and Adult Care Food Program

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for free and reduced-price eligibility through the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program. The income guidelines are effective from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.

Completing the Education Benefits application is important for families in terms of potential benefits and reduces costs for student activities.  Additionally, it is vital for the district, as we receive funding in various areas based on the needs in our district.  This goes beyond the breakfast/lunch program and affects funding for technology as well. 

Contact your school, childcare center, family childcare home, adult care center, or camp to find out whether it participates in these programs.

Households with incomes that are less than or equal to the guidelines for free qualify for free eligibility. Households with incomes that are greater than the guidelines for free, but less than or equal to the guidelines for reduced-price, qualify for reduced-price eligibility.

Family Size | FreeMonthly Income up to: | Reduced-Price Monthly Income up to:
1 | 1,729 | 2,461
2 | 2,345 | 3,337
3 | 2,960 | 4,212
4 | 3,575 | 5,088
5 | 4,191 | 5,964
6 | 4,806 | 6,839
7 | 5,421 | 7,715
8 | 6,037 | 8,591
Add for each additional person | 616 | 876

An Application for Educational Benefits or Household Income Statement can be approved if it contains documentation of qualifying household income; documentation of current participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR); or indicates the student is placed in foster care.

Children may qualify for free eligibility through direct certification if they receive SNAP, MFIP, FDPIR or are migrant, homeless, runaway, foster, or enrolled in Head Start. Medicaid recipients meeting income guidelines may qualify for free or reduced-price eligibility through direct certification.

Participating schools accept Applications for Educational Benefits and centers accept Household Income Statements at any time during the year. A household may qualify for free or reduced-price eligibility due to a temporary loss of income during the year, such as a period of unemployment. An appeal procedure is available for households whose applications are denied. Information supplied on an application may be verified at any time.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For more information, view USDA’s full nondiscriminationstatement.