Free/Reduced-Price Meals
Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced-Price Meals
The San Mateo-Foster City School District offers free and reduced-price meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program. A copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party, is available.
Household size and income criteria are used to determine eligibility for free, reduced-price, or full-price meal benefits. Application forms will be distributed to all households with a letter informing them of the availability of free and reduced-price meals for enrolled children. Applications are also available at each school office. To apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits, households must complete an application and return it to the school for processing. If during the year a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, parents should contact the school as such changes may make children eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below eligibility levels.
Letter to household and common questions about free and reduced-price school meals
Letter to household and common questions about free and reduced-price school meals (Spanish)
Instructions on how to apply for Free and Reduced Price School Meals
Instructions on how to apply for Free and Reduced Price School Meals (Spanish)
Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced-Price Meals or Free Milk in Child Nutrition Programs
Effective July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021, participants from households with incomes at or below the following levels may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals or free milk.
Note: The new income calculations are based on annual figures and the following formulas: Monthly = annual income divided by 12; Twice Per Month = annual income divided by 24; Every Two Weeks = annual income divided by 26; and Weekly = annual income divided by 52. All dollar amounts are rounded up to the next whole dollar.
Free Eligibility Scale Meals, Snacks, and Milk
| Household Size | Annual | Monthly | Twice Per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
$16,558 |
$1,383 |
$692 |
$638 |
$319 |
|
2 |
22,412 |
1,868 |
934 |
862 |
431 |
|
3 |
28,236 |
2,353 |
1,177 |
1,086 |
543 |
|
4 |
34,060 |
2,839 |
1,420 |
1,310 |
655 |
|
5 |
39,884 |
3,324 |
1,662 |
1,534 |
767 |
|
6 |
45,708 |
3,809 |
1,905 |
1,758 |
879 |
|
7 |
51,532 |
4,295 |
2,148 |
1,982 |
991 |
|
8 |
57,356 |
4,780 |
2,390 |
2,206 |
1,103 |
|
For each additional family member, add: |
$5,824 |
$486 |
$243 |
$224 |
$112 |
Reduced-Price Eligibility Scale
Meals and Snacks
| Household Size | Annual | Monthly | Twice Per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
$23,606 |
$1,968 |
$984 |
$908 |
$454 |
|
2 |
31,894 |
2,658 |
1,329 |
1,227 |
614 |
|
3 |
40,182 |
3,349 |
1,675 |
1,546 |
773 |
|
4 |
48,470 |
4,040 |
2,020 |
1,865 |
933 |
|
5 |
56,758 |
4,730 |
2,365 |
2,183 |
1,092 |
|
6 |
65,046 |
5,421 |
2,711 |
2,502 |
1,251 |
|
7 |
73,334 |
6,112 |
3,056 |
2,821 |
1,411 |
|
8 |
81,622 |
6,802 |
3,401 |
3,140 |
1,570 |
|
For each additional family member, add: |
$8,288 |
$691 |
$346 |
$319 |
$160 |
- Household is synonymous with family and means a group of related or unrelated individuals who are not residents of an institution or boarding house, but who are living as one economic unit sharing housing and all significant income and expenses. This scale does not apply to households that receive CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits, or children who are recipients of California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Program (CalWORKs). Those children are automatically eligible for free meal benefits.
