Reduced price and free school meals available across Kansas

The Kansas State Department of Education has announced that all Kansas school districts and many private schools will participate in the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Program for the upcoming school year. The program provides reduced price and free meals to eligible students based on household income guidelines.

Application forms are available from local schools, and can be submitted at any time during the year. Households receiving food assistance or Temporary Assistance to Families (TAF) will automatically receive notifications about their eligibility for free benefits unless they choose to decline.

Households with participants in programs like WIC or certain Medicaid benefits may also qualify for reduced price or free meals. Those involved in Head Start, Migrant Education, or considered homeless should contact their school district's liaison for assistance.

Foster children under state custody are eligible for free meals regardless of household income. Applications listing all household members, including foster children, must be completed by households not receiving direct assistance.

Eligibility status may be verified during the school year by program officials. If a household experiences changes such as unemployment or a change in size, they should notify their school as it might affect eligibility for meal benefits.

Federal civil rights laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or prior civil rights activity within USDA-funded programs. Individuals requiring alternative communication methods can contact local agencies where they applied for benefits.

Complaints of discrimination can be filed using the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form available online or through mail, fax, or email to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.