Soldotna, June 30, 2022—The USDA discontinued universal free meals for students, and parents and guardians are encouraged to complete their online meal application so children will have access to meal benefits based on their determination the first day of the school year. On July 1, 2022, the streamlined online application for Free and Reduced Meals to determine benefits and qualify communities for federal funds is live. KPBSD Free and Reduced Meal application: http://mealapp.kpbsd.org

Kenai Peninsula Borough School District 2022-2023 Meal Prices:

Breakfast: Students approved for Free and Reduced meals: $.00; Grades K-12: $2.50

Lunch: Students approved for reduced meals: $.40; Grades K-6: $3.50; Grades 7-12: $4.00

The Community Eligible Program (CEP) qualifies every student in the school to receive free meals. KPBSD CEP schools are Nanwalek School, Nikolaevsk School, and Tebughna School.

Key changes to student meals in the 2022-2023 school year beginning in August:

Discontinuation of Universal Free Meals: USDA is ending the universal free meals for the 2022-2023 school year. For the 2022-2023 school year, families can apply for free or reduced-price meals starting July 1.

Online Application: Parents or guardians must reapply each year for free or reduced meal benefits This year, all applications will be accepted online through the new state portal at http://mealapp.kpbsd.org. If someone does not have access to the internet, each school will have a few paper applications in the school office.

Meal benefits from the 2021-2022 school year will carry over until September 28, 2022, but a new application must be received by KPBSD Student Nutrition Services by then, or the student will revert to a paid meal status.

Opt-In form required to charge meals up to two days of meals: Students will not be permitted to charge any meals this year until parents or guardians have signed an Opt-In form for their child. The Opt-In is included in the online packet, and SNS needs a form completed for each student that a parent gives permission to charge. When completed, students will be allowed to charge up to two days of meals, and no further charges will be allowed until the amount is paid back.

In 1965, federal funds were established through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to ensure that all children have a fair and equal opportunity to education. KPBSD has developed programs to support struggling learners all around the district, and various forms are included in school registration packets each year to help identify qualifying students and families. Completion of the Free and Reduced Meal application–even by families who do not want to use free or reduced price meals–is important to the continuation of these federally funded programs. Federal funding is based on qualified applications.

Links

KPBSD Student Nutrition Services webpage

KPBSD Free and Reduced Meal application: http://mealapp.kpbsd.org

KPBSD secure webstore to add food service funds for meals, or use the link on the KPBSD mobile app