School Meal Eligibility is determined at the district level by households completing a free or reduced-price application; households can also be automatically eligible for free school meals through direct certification. Qualifying students as eligible for free or low-cost school meals helps to increase access to healthy meals, which supports their health and academic performance. Find more specific information regarding school meal eligibility below.
School Meal Eligibility Guidance
Direct Certification (DC)
Direct Certification uses approved assistance program data to automatically approve eligible students for free school meals. Colorado uses an automated online system to directly certify households that participate in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Migrant Education Program.
Resources
Templates
- Direct Certification Eligibility Letter - English (DOC),
- Direct Certification Eligibility Letter - Spanish (DOC)
- Extend Eligibility to Additional Household Members - English (DOC)
- Extend Eligibility to Additional Household Members - Spanish (DOC)
- Consent to Release and Share Information - English (DOC)
- Consent to Release and Share Information - Spanish (DOC)
Free and Reduced-Price (F&R) Application Guidance
The free and reduced-price application determines school meal eligibility based on reported information including household size and income or participation in approved assistance programs.
Templates
- Free and Reduced-Price Application Template (DOC)
- USDA Translated Free and Reduced-Price Applications
- Eligibility Letter - English (DOC)
- Eligibility Letter - Spanish (DOC)
- Change in Benefits Letter - English (DOC)
- Change in Benefits Letter - Spanish (DOC)
- Information Letter to Households - English (DOC)
- Information Letter to Households - Spanish (DOC)
- Consent to Release and Share Information - English (DOC)
- Consent to Release and Share Information - Spanish (DOC)
- Disclosure Agreement Template (DOC)
District Liaisons For:
- Foster Care Education - Child Welfare Liaison (CWEL)
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Education - Homeless Liaison
- Migrant Education Program (MEP) - Regional Migrant Liaison
Income Verification Guidance
Verification is the process of confirming free or reduced-price meal eligibility based on income and/or assistance program information provided on applications.
Resources
Templates
For more information or if an alternative version of a document is needed, please contact ReducedPriceSchoolMeals@cde.state.co.us or call 303-866-6661.
