Income

Children can get free or reduced-price meals if a household’s gross income is within the limits described in the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. 

Special Assistance Program Participants

Children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), are eligible for free meals.

Foster 

Foster children who are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals. If you are applying for a foster child, also report the child’s foster status to the school.

Head Start, Early Head Start, and Even Start

Children participating in these programs are eligible for free meals.

Homeless, Runaway, and Migrant

Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant qualify for free meals. If you haven’t been told about a child’s status as homeless, runaway, or migrant or you feel a child may qualify for one of these programs, please call or email your child’s school.

WIC Recipient

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

You can apply online at SchoolCafe or complete a paper application for free or reduced-price meals and return it to the school or the School Nutrition Services office at 3623 Highpoint Street, San Antonio, TX 78217. Applications are distributed at the beginning of the school year and are available during the school year at the school upon request or you can call 210-356-9100 to request an application

Yes. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. 

The online application is available at SchoolCafe.com in mid-July each year. 

During peak periods (especially the first three weeks of school) applications will be processed within 10 working days.  Applications received in non-peak periods will typically be processed within 4-5 days.

No.  If proof of income is required, you will receive a letter from School Nutrition Services requesting the documentation.

List the amount normally received. If a household member lost a job or had hours/wages reduced, use current income.

Unless your child withdrew from school before the end of last school year, the previous year’s status will carry over to the beginning of the new school year for a limited time. Submit a new application for your child as soon as possible. When your new application is processed, your child’s eligibility will be changed to the new eligibility status effective the next school day. Your child should be prepared to pay for lunch if your income or family size has changed since last year’s application was approved. If we do not receive and approve your new application within the first 30 school days of the new school year, your child’s meal benefits will end on the 30th day of school.

In most cases, no.  But read the letter carefully and call the School Nutrition office if you have not received a letter that lists the names of all children in your household that attend school at North East ISD.

Yes. You can include your child's information on the application for the entire household. You must check the box next to the child’s name in Section 1 of the application to indicate that he/she is participating in the program. If you are applying for a Foster, homeless, migrant or runaway student, call the school for more information.

Students that attend a school that qualifies for CEP will receive free breakfast and lunch without filling out a meal application. However, if you have other NEISD students living in your household that attend a non-CEP school, you need to fill out an application if you want them to receive free or reduced price meals and you have not received a letter stating that they are eligible for the current school year.

Basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. Any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, or Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance payments count as income. If housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include the housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is excluded from income.

Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meals.

Yes. An application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year. Send in a new application unless the school has told you that your child is eligible for the new school year.