The state policy for free and reduced meals in Iowa has been finalized for the upcoming school year.
There are four ways that households may be eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits according to the policy. To be eligible to receive the benefits, households must have an income at or below certain levels, receive SNAP or FIP benefits, a letter from the Department of Health and Human Services, or through a submitted application. The income requirements for the upcoming school year and any other information regarding requirements can be found below.
Knoxville Community School District Superintendent Cassi Pearson encourages families to remember to fill out their applications.
“By filling those out if you qualify, that also assists us with some of our federal funding. Our title one reading dollars and other things are based on the percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. Even if you qualify you don’t have to access those funds, but I think it’s a win-win.”
Eligibility from the previous year will continue within the same school for up to 30 operating days into the new school year. When the carryover period ends, unless the household is notified that their students are directly certified or the household submits an application that is approved, the students must pay full price for school meals and the school will not send a reminder or a notice of expired eligibility.