Free and Reduced Meals

MEAL BENEFIT applications FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR open July 15, 2024.

FAMILIES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEAL APPLICATIONS every year to receive meal benefits.

During the pandemic, the Arlington ISD was able to offer no cost meals to all students due to temporary program flexibilities provided by the federal government. These flexibilities have expired. Schools are now required to return to charging for school meals on the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) based on program eligibility.

To get started, choose your school below and then click on the ‘Complete the Form’ button.

Meal applications are also for state-funded programs, to help ensure students receive all state funding and benefits available to their school and for appropriate comparisons for state accountability purposes.

Free and Reduced Meals Information

Please apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits by completing a meal benefits application.

Meal benefit paper applications are available throughout the school year at 1206 W. Arkansas, Arlington, TX. 76013, during school days, M-F, 7:30am to 4:30pm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can receive free meals?

Children in households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program), or TANF can get free meals regardless of your income. Your benefit letter from Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is your documentation for free meals. If you have not already received a letter from the AISD Food & Nutrition Services Office stating that your household is eligible for free meals, you may bring your HHSC benefit letter to the Food & Nutrition Services Office to be certified for free meals. If a child in your household is directly certified due to receiving SNAP or TANF benefits, all children of your household are eligible for free meals. If a child in your household is not included on the Letter of Direct Certification, sent to you by the district, or if you have questions, call the AISD Food & Nutrition Services Office at (682) 867-7895.

Who can receive reduced price meals?

Your children can receive low-cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Chart.

If I don’t qualify now, may I apply again later?

Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start receiving SNAP or TANF benefits (such as unemployment benefits).

What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application?

You should talk to the Food & Nutrition Services Office at (682) 867-7895. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Food Service Director, 1206 W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington, Texas 76013.

What if I have a child(ren) attending a school operating CEP and a child(ren) attending a school not operating CEP?

To receive free or reduced-price meal benefits for your child(ren) attending schools other than the CEP schools listed below, you will need to apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits by completing a meal benefits application. When completing the meal benefits application, you will need to list all children in the household on the meal benefits application. We also ask that you complete a Household Family Data Collections form in order for your child’s school operating CEP to receive all the State funding and benefits available.