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School Meal Eligibility
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.
2020 Free and Reduced-Price Public Release
The free and reduced-price school meals public release was published on behalf of all sponsors operating NSLP on Wednesday, July 1, 2020. The public release provides families with the newest qualifying income guidelines, information on eligible school sites, and guidance on how to complete a free and reduced-price meal application. Sponsors interested in providing their families with specific district information can find editable public release templates in both English and Spanish.
Free and Reduced-Price Outreach Toolkit
Use the new free and reduced-price school meals outreach toolkit to market the importance of applying and promoting the availability of free school meals. Sponsors can access print-ready and web materials, customizable flyers, social media templates and talking points.
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)
Training
- Direct Certification In-Person Training - closed
- Direct Certification Online Training
District Liaisons For:
- Foster Care Education - Child Welfare Liaison (CWEL)
- McKinney-Vento Homeless Education - Homeless Liaison
- Migrant Education Program (MEP) - Regional Migrant Liaison
Legislation requires each district to have a child welfare liaison (CWEL), a McKinney Vento/Homeless liaison and a regional Migrant liaison. Liaisons are responsible for identifying and documenting children who qualify for the listed assistance programs. Children identified in these programs are automatically eligible for free school meals.
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.
Resources
- 2020-2021 Income Eligibility Guidelines (PDF)
- Examples of Complete Applications (PDF)
- Eligibility Software System - Annual Checklist (PDF)
Templates
- Free and Reduced-Price Application Template - English (DOC)
- Free and Reduced-Price Application Template - Spanish (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)
- Public Release Template - English (DOC)
- Public Release Template - Spanish (DOC)
Training
- Free and Reduced-Price Meals 101 Virtual Training
- Participants will learn how to process applications, discover the importance of school meal eligibility, and think through Back to School scenarios.
- Recorded on August 5, 2020; 2 hours 35 min long
- Participants will learn how to process applications, discover the importance of school meal eligibility, and think through Back to School scenarios.
- Free and Reduced-Price Meals 201 Virtual Training
- Participants will learn to critically think through the intricate areas of the free and reduced-price school meal program. As a disclaimer, there are times in the recording where the audio may be hard to hear; the recording includes downloadable PowerPoint slides with speaker notes.
- Recorded on August 12, 2020; 2 hours 30 min long
- Participants will learn to critically think through the intricate areas of the free and reduced-price school meal program. As a disclaimer, there are times in the recording where the audio may be hard to hear; the recording includes downloadable PowerPoint slides with speaker notes.
- October 1 Count/Free Lunch Webinar Recording
Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT)
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 free&reducedpriceschoolmeals@cde.state.co.us or call 303-866-6661.
Financial information on schools and districts throughout Colorado. Learn more about financial transparency.
Colorado Dept. of Education
201 East Colfax Ave.
Denver, CO 80203
Phone: 303-866-6600
Fax: 303-830-0793
Contact CDE
CDE Hours
Mon - Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
See also Licensing Hours
UPDATED
October 13, 2020
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