Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications Available for the 2026-2027 School Year
- 6 hours ago
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Seneca R-7 School District has announced its updated free and reduced price meal policy for the 2026-2027 school year. Eligible students may receive free or reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
Families are encouraged to review the income guidelines below and submit an application if they believe their household may qualify.
2026-2027 Income Eligibility Guidelines
Household Size | Free Meals: Annual Income | Free Meals: Monthly Income | Reduced Price: Annual Income | Reduced Price: Monthly Income |
1 | $20,748 | $1,729 | $29,526 | $2,461 |
2 | $28,132 | $2,345 | $40,034 | $3,337 |
3 | $35,516 | $2,960 | $50,542 | $4,212 |
4 | $42,900 | $3,575 | $61,050 | $5,088 |
5 | $50,284 | $4,191 | $71,558 | $5,964 |
6 | $57,668 | $4,806 | $82,066 | $6,839 |
7 | $65,052 | $5,421 | $92,574 | $7,715 |
8 | $72,436 | $6,037 | $103,082 | $8,591 |
Each additional household member | Add $7,384 | Add $616 | Add $10,508 | Add $876 |
Children from households with income at or below the listed amounts may qualify for free or reduced price meals.
How to Apply
Applications are available at each school office. Families should complete a Free and
Reduced Price School Meals Family Application and return it to the school.
Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. All information provided is confidential and will be used only to determine eligibility.
A completed application must include:
The household’s income from all sources, or a qualifying Food Stamp, TANF, or FDPIR case number
The names of all household members
The signature of the adult household member completing the application
The last four digits of that adult’s Social Security number, or an indication that the adult does not have a Social Security number
School officials may verify the income or other information included on an application at any time during the school year.
Families Receiving Assistance Benefits
Children who are members of households currently receiving Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or benefits through the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations are eligible for free meals.
When the district is notified that a household receives qualifying assistance, the family will receive an eligibility notice. Families should contact the school if a child in the household is not included on the notice so that benefits can be extended to all eligible children.
Additional Eligibility Categories
Children may also qualify for meal benefits through the following programs or circumstances:
Foster care
Head Start
Homeless assistance programs
Migrant education programs
Runaway programs
Families with children who qualify through one of these categories should contact the school for assistance. Families participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, may also be eligible for free or reduced price meals.
Changes During the School Year
Families should submit a new application if a household member becomes unemployed, household income decreases, or the number of people living in the household changes. These changes could make a student eligible for benefits even if the family did not qualify earlier in the school year.
Eligibility Decisions and Appeals
The Superintendent will review applications and determine eligibility.
Parents or guardians who disagree with an eligibility decision may first discuss the decision informally with the determining official. They may also request a hearing, either orally or in writing, through Dr. Brandon Eggleston.
A complete copy of the district’s free and reduced price meal policy is available for review at each school and at the Seneca R-7 Central Office.
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident. 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 state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). 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, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; 2. 3. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or Email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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