Meal Assistance Programs
Families wishing to receive MEAL ASSISTANCE fall into three main categories:
- Direct Certification
- Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
- Free and Reduced-Price Meals Application
DIRECT CERTIFICATION:
a household member receives federal SNAP or FIP benefits; receives a DHS letter; is homeless; a runaway or migrant; is a foster child
Do you need to apply for meal assistance? NO! Regardless of where your student attends, free or reduced-price meals are automatic and no additional meal assistance form is needed.
If you complete a fee waiver application, do you need to submit additional paperwork? USUALLY NO! For most students, completing the fee waiver application in annual registration is all that’s needed. The district will reach out to directly certified families needing additional paperwork.
If not directly certified, a household’s meal assistance category is based on where the member(s) of the household attends school.
COMMUNITY ELIGIBILITY PROVISION (CEP):
a household member attends Alta Vista Campus, Audubon, Hoover, Jefferson, Lincoln, Marshall, Prescott, Washington
Do you need to apply for meal assistance? NO! Students in these schools do NOT need to complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals Application. ALL students in these schools receive no-cost meals, regardless of income.
If you complete a fee waiver application, do you need to submit additional paperwork? YES! Households with ALL students attending a CEP school who are not directly certified must submit a completed Income Verification Form to determine eligibility for waivable fees. The district will provide this form to families needing to verify household income.
See Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for more information.
FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS:
a household member attends Bryant, Carver, Eisenhower, Hempstead, Irving, Kennedy, Roosevelt, Sageville, Senior, Table Mound or Seedlings Preschool Center
Do you need to apply for meal assistance? YES! Students in these schools who are not directly certified must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals Application and meet federal income guidelines to receive meal assistance.
➜ NEW THIS YEAR: all Free and Reduced- Price Meals applications will be completed and processed directly through your existing Infinite Campus account. Plus, by using household information already on file, the application process will be easier and faster.
If you complete a fee waiver application, do you need to submit additional paperwork? YES! Households with students in these schools who are not directly certified must submit a completed Free and Reduced-Price Meals Application to determine eligibility for waivable fees.
See Free and Reduced-Price Meals for more information.
Fee Waiver Benefits
Based on federal income eligibility guidelines, households may qualify to have district fees waived or reduced. Families wishing to receive a FEE WAIVER must waive confidentiality of household income eligibility status by completing a fee waiver application.
See Fee Waiver Benefits for more information.
Are you eligible for meal assistance or fee waiver benefits?
Find out by reviewing the income chart below.
2024-2025 Federal Income Guidelines Chart
| Household Size | Yearly | Monthly | Twice per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27,861 | 2,322 | 1,161 | 1,072 | 536 |
| 2 | 37,814 | 3,152 | 1,576 | 1,455 | 728 |
| 3 | 47,767 | 3,981 | 1,991 | 1,838 | 919 |
| 4 | 57,720 | 4,810 | 2,405 | 2,220 | 1,110 |
| 5 | 67,673 | 5,640 | 2,820 | 2,603 | 1,302 |
| 6 | 77,626 | 6,469 | 3,235 | 2,986 | 1,493 |
| 7 | 87,579 | 7,299 | 3,650 | 3,369 | 1,685 |
| 8 | 97,532 | 8,128 | 4,064 | 3,752 | 1,876 |
| Each additional person: | 9,953 | 830 | 415 | 383 | 192 |
NOTE: Families are required to submit appropriate paperwork EACH YEAR to receive meal assistance and fee waiver benefits with eligibility determined by the federal income eligibility guidelines for that school year.
Food and Nutrition Services
food@dbqschools.org
563/552-3237
For fee waiver questions, contact the Board of Education secretary at 563/552-3037.