CDE releases Free and Reduced-Price School Meal Policy for 2024-25 school year

DENVER — The Colorado Department of Education today released its 2024-25 school year policy that determines student eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals provided through the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and/or the Special Milk Program.

In the 2024-25 school year, Colorado’s public school districts can opt into the state’s Healthy School Meals for All program that provides free meals at schools regardless of student eligibility. CDE encourages all families, regardless of their district’s participation in this program, to complete their school’s household income application available starting Monday, July 1.

Commissioner Susana Córdova said: “It’s important for parents and families to complete this application because it helps their schools and districts access the state and federal funding available for school systems serving Colorado’s economically disadvantaged communities. These funds are a critical resource, and we need strong parent and family participation in this confidential application process to ensure schools can access those dollars.

Families will receive information directly from their schools about the application process or can contact their schools for an application. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only to determine eligibility. Families only need to fill out one application for all children in their household.

The application does not require information about immigration, migrant, citizenship or refugee status. It does require either the last four numbers of a Social Security number or an indication that there is no Social Security number. This information about Social Security numbers is not reported to any organization outside of your school and school district. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. Parents and families can complete an application if any household member(s) have a decrease in income, become unemployed, have an increase in family size, become eligible for SNAP, TANF or FDPIR benefits, or become categorically eligible.

During the 2024-2025 school year, the following criteria will be used to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals. For example, a household of two earning $25,000 annually would be eligible for free meals.

2024-25 criteria used to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals.

If you are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, you may be eligible for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid or FDPIR. View this website for more information about those resources.

Additional information about Free and Reduced Price School Meal Applications

Applications from households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits or Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF/Colorado Works, Basic Cash Assistance or State Diversion) benefits need to provide the respective case number and the signature of an adult household member. Eligibility for free school meals is extended to all children in the household when the application provides a case number for any household member.

Households that qualify based on income must provide the names of all individuals living in the household regardless of relation (such as grandparents, other relatives or friends), the gross income each household member receives, the frequency and source of pay, the signature of an adult household member, and the last four digits of that adult household member’s Social Security number or a checked box indicating that the adult household member does not have a social security number. School district or program officials may verify the information on the application at any time during the school year.

Households with children who are eligible under the Head Start, homeless/McKinney Vento, migrant, or runaway programs should contact the school for assistance in receiving meal benefits.

Foster children who are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free school meals regardless of income. If a household has only foster children in the home and wishes to apply for free school meals, the application should be completed using the instructions for households with foster children only. If a household has foster and non-foster children living with them and wishes to apply for free school meals, the application should be completed using the instructions for households with foster and non-foster children residing in the home. Including foster children as household members may help other children in the household qualify for school meal benefits. If the foster family is not eligible to receive school meal benefits, it does not prevent a foster child from receiving free school meals.

Applications cannot be approved unless they contain complete eligibility information as indicated on the application and instructions.

When determined by the school district that members of a household are receiving assistance from SNAP, TANF, Medicaid or FDPIR, households will be notified of their children’s eligibility for free school meals. If the household receives such notice, no application is required for free or reduced-price school meal benefits. If any children in the household were not listed on the eligibility notice or not listed on the application, the household should contact the district to have benefits extended to all children in the household.

When determined by the school district that an individual child is categorized as homeless/McKinney Vento – eligible, migrant, or runaway or is enrolled in an eligible Head Start program, households will be notified of the child’s eligibility for free school meals. For any children not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact the school district about eligibility under one of these programs or should apply to the other children.

Eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals is valid for the current school year and a carryover period of up to 30 operating days into the next school year. Following the 30-day carryover period, unless the household is notified that their children are directly certified or the household submits an application that is approved, children in districts not participating in the Healthy School Meals for All program must pay full price for school meals. Schools will not send notices of expired eligibility. Households notified of their children’s eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals must contact the school district if they choose to decline meal benefits.

Participants enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals and can contact their school districts for more information.

Under the provision of the free and reduced-price school meal policy, the designated determining official for each Colorado school food authority (the school district) will review applications and determine eligibility. Households may request to discuss the eligibility decision with the determining official and must request a hearing to appeal the decision orally or in writing to the designated district hearing official.  Contact the local school and/ or district office for the name, address and phone number of the designated hearing official. Each school district has a copy of the complete free and reduced-price school meal policy which contains an outline of the hearing procedure.

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In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online, in-person from any USDA office by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2. fax:  (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3. email: [email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.