New Income Guidelines for Free and Reduced Meals for the 2023-2024 School Year
During the 2023 ND Legislative Session, the legislature expanded the federal poverty guidelines to include families who earn up to 200% poverty level. Families who qualify based on Federal or State Expanded Income Eligibility Guidelines (NDEIEG) will not need to pay for breakfast or lunch. The new State Free Eligibility will provide meal reimbursements for those students who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals under federal income guidelines, but whose income falls below the 200% poverty level. The supplemental state reimbursement is the difference between the USDA Federal Free and the USDA Paid Meal Reimbursement Rate. The NDEIEG affects all schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program.
Schools will use the North Dakota Expanded Income Eligibility Guidelines to determine if applications qualify for Federal Free, Federal Reduced, State Free, or Paid category.
Last year if you were a household of 4, the income eligibility for free meals was $36,075 (yearly) and reduced meals was $51,338 (yearly).
With the new state expanded income eligibility guidelines set for free meals at the 200% poverty level, a family of 4 is now qualified at $60,000 (yearly income), and the reduced rate is $55,500 (yearly income).
We are encouraging all families to fill out the applications by August 18th. The more families that qualify for free/reduced lunch program, the more opportunities we have as a school district to apply for federal and state grants.
Please contact Sherri or Kayla at the school to pick up an application or let us know if you would like one mailed to you. We will also put this information on our school website.
The application is a confidential process, with only Sherri knowing who has applied. If you have any questions or would like help filling it out, you can call Sherri at 701-843- 7823 or email her at Sherri.Hulm@k12.nd.us.