As the situation is right now, schools will be back to charging for student meals with the 2022-23 school year. Congress did not extend federal school meal waivers and school meals will no longer be available to ALL students free of charge effective at the start of the 2022-23 school year. Schools must make available and resume processing free and reduced-price meal applications for 2022-23.
- This ensures students in qualifying households receive free or reduced priced meal benefits and schools receive Kansas At-Risk funding.
- Applications cannot be distributed to households prior to July 1, 2022. These forms will also be available at the August enrollment – August 2, 2022. USD 108 will also have an on-line version available after July 1, 2022.
- Schools receive reimbursement for each free, reduced, and paid meal that is served.
- Reimbursement rates differ based on the eligibility status and are set at the federal level.
- Local school boards are required to set and approve student and adult meal prices annually. The student cost for a full price meal may vary by grade level. These prices will be set at the July 2022 BOE meeting.
- Reduced price can be no more than 30 cents per breakfast meal and 40 cents per lunch meal.
- Universal free lunch is not allowable due to the paid lunch equity tool requirements. Meaning, schools could not provide free meals for all, even if they wanted to.
- All schools must have a written policy to address situations when a student does not have sufficient funds on hand or in their account to pay for a reimbursable meal.