On August, 17, 2022, students will be charged for both breakfast and lunch unless they qualify for free or reduced priced meals. LPS is encouraging families to apply for the 2021-2022 school year (through June 30, 2022) and again for the 2022 - 2023 school year (before August 17, 2022) to ensure they do not accrue negative balances on their students' accounts. Families who qualify for free and reduced price meals may also receive P-EBT benefits and have access to other waived fees within the district.
Why are meals no longer free?
During COVID, Congress allowed the United States Department of Agriculture to grant waivers allowing all students to eat for free. These waivers were granted to reduce barriers that school nutrition programs would have ensuring all students had access to nutritious meals, regardless of their learning environment or family financial situation based on COVID. Congress did include COVID relief funds in the 2022 spending bill that was passed on March 18th, which means that for school year 2022-23, students will be charged for both breakfast and lunch unless they qualify for free or reduced priced meals.
Do I need to submit a free and reduced price meal application for this school year and next school year?
LPS requests families that believe they might qualify for free or reduced price meals to complete an application for SY 21-22 prior to the end of the school year. If a family qualifies for free or reduced price meals, they will be given a 30 day grace period at the beginning of the 22-23 school year. We all know the beginning of the school year is chaotic and this helps ensure a family who qualifies will not be charged for meals starting in August.
I don’t qualify for free or reduced priced meals, do I need to do anything?
If you do not believe you qualify for free or reduced price meals, please make sure that there is money on your students account. You can add money onto their account at https://family.titank12.com.
If I do not submit a free and reduced application prior to the first day of school and/or if my student does not have money in their account, what will happen?
In LPS, we never take meals away from students. If you have not submitted an application and do not have money in your student's account, your student will be allowed to charge meals into the negative on their account. Families are responsible for paying outstanding balances.
