Meal Assistance Programs

Find your household size in the chart below. If your income is less than that listed for your household size, your children might qualify for meal benefits and you should continue to the next set of instructions. 

• Income Eligibility Chart

If you receive a "directly certified" (DC) letter stating that a child is a DC student -- receiving free meals for 2023-24 -- then you do NOT need to complete an application. However, you must inform Programs Assistant Jessica Morgison if any children in the household currently attending FCPS are not listed in the letter.

• What is a DC student? Students may be directly certified (DC) when they receive certain federal benefits, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP). Students whom the district identifies as homeless, Head Start, migrant, or runaways are also considered DC. Some foster children and some children receiving Medicaid may also qualify as DC.

If your family does NOT receive a DC letter, then income eligibility or other categorical requirements are in effect, and a parent/guardian should complete the meal application below.

Families must reapply each school year. The district will notify you when the application has been processed. 

Students who do not qualify will pay full price for breakfast and lunch.

• Meal Assistance Application

 

 

(Online applications are available in several languages. Look for the language link on the top right of the application screen.)

Did you know? Applying for meal assistance might also qualify your family for help with costs like band instruments, athletics fees, reduced internet costs, college application fees, and even groceries. 

All students enrolled in CEP schools will receive breakfast and lunch at no cost throughout this school year. However, it is still important for families to complete an application for non-meal related benefits associated with student free/reduced data. CEP schools call this the Educational Benefits Form. Filling it out helps both the student’s family and the schools. 

• Educational Benefits Form

How were CEP schools selected?

Schools were selected based on the percentage of directly certified (DC) students. Note: This is different qualifying data from the total free/reduced enrolled percentages reported at schools.

What is a DC student?

Students may be directly certified when they receive certain federal benefits, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (K-TAP). Students whom the district identifies as homeless, Head Start, migrant, or runaways are also considered DC. Some foster children and some children receiving Medicaid may also qualify as DC.

For more information on CEP qualifications, please see our FAQ.