Free & Reduced Price Meals

Child Nutrition Services is proud to announce that ALL students will receive TWO FREE meals each school day, regardless of income. Commencing school year 2022-23, Evergreen School District began participating in the federal program called Provision 2 Special Assistance Program available to schools as part of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.

Provision 2 operates on a four year cycle. The first year, or base year, sets federal and state meal program reimbursement based on the percentages of free, reduced, and paid meals served during 2022-23. Child Nutrition Services will not make any new free or reduced-price meal eligibility determinations in subsequent cycle years. As a result, households experience a reduction in burden as families will not be asked to complete a Free & Reduced Meal Application in non-base years. Evergreen School District however, may request new or incoming transfer students to complete an Education Benefit form. Education Benefit forms will not affect your student’s ability to receive two free meals a day. Completing the form is critical to secure essential funding for the District, as well as make families eligible for discounted utilities and internet, college application fees, after-school programs and more.

Why is Evergreen School District requesting financial information if all students eat for free?

The information you provide by returning the 2022-23 Meal Application determines the base year funding sources for school meal programs under Provision 2. In subsequent and/or extension years, families may be asked to complete a simplified Education Benefit form to capture socioeconomic data and ensure Evergreen School District receives all of the funding it is entitled to for state educational programs.

Apply Online for Safe, Convenient, and Fast Turnaround

Evergreen School District encourages all families to apply online for Free and Reduced Price Meals. The process is SAFE, SECURE, PRIVATE, FAST, and AVAILABLE anytime, anywhere. The information collected on these forms is 100% confidential and will not be shared for non-District purposes. You do not need to be a citizen and there is no effect on the public charge rule.

Safe & Secure
We use the highest level of data encryption available, meaning that your information is always safe and guarded.

Fast
Your data is transmitted to the Evergreen School District Child Nutrition Office the same day you apply, allowing for quicker processing so you can receive benefits faster.

Private & Available
Apply online in the comfort and privacy of your own home.The online service is available 24/7 anytime, anywhere there is an Internet connection!

Go Green
No more paper applications to complete and return to the school office! Applying online is so convenient and good for the environment as well!

APPLICATION: Free & Reduced Price Meal Application(opens in new window/tab)

Applications Help Our District and Schools Receive Much-Needed Funding

Every student who is eligible for free and reduced price meals has the potential to generate more Federal, State and private grant funding is available to schools - funding that goes directly back to your student’s classroom to increase or improve services. We encourage all households to complete a meal application, even if you plan on sending lunch from home for your student.

DID YOU KNOW FREE AND REDUCED MEALS ELIGIBILITY...

BENEFITS YOUR FAMILY

Free school meals and P-EBT benefits
Fee waivers for college applications & admissions tests
Discounted utilities & internet access
Discounted school fees for after-school and summer programs

BENEFITS YOUR SCHOOL

Provides increased funding through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF)
Help support funding for computers and technology
Helps fund academic and enrichment programming
Helps provide resources for classrooms, teachers and cafeterias

Reapply When Your Situation Changes

Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year and households are encouraged to complete a new application if you experience a decrease in household income, become unemployed, have an increase in family size, or qualify for CalFresh, CalWorks/TANF, or FDPIR benefits. Please note: The 2021-22 Meal Applications expire on Sep 28, 2022. In order to avoid a lapse in benefits and ensure your eligibility is counted for school funding, please complete your 2022-23 Meal Application as soon as possible.

Paper Applications Are Available If Needed

If a hard copy application is needed, applications can be requested from your child’s school office, at the Evergreen Child Nutrition Services office, or print them at home using the links below.

2022-23 Free & Reduced Lunch Application - English
How to Apply for Free & Reduced Price Meals - English

2022-23 Free & Reduced Lunch Application- Spanish
How to Apply for Free & Reduced Price Meals - Spanish

2022-23 Free & Reduced Lunch Application- Vietnamese
How to Apply for Free & Reduced Price Meals - Vietnamese

Only ONE application needs to be completed for each household. Please review the information prior to submitting application to ensure all required areas have been completed. Applications that are incomplete will be returned and the eligibility process will be delayed. An original copy with signature must be received for processing. It cannot be submitted by fax.

Please check the application for the following:

All Student Names and Attendance School
All other children in the household
Names of all adult household members
Income information for ALL household members
Source of income
Signature of parent or guardian
Last four digits of the Social Security of the signing adult

Completed applications can be returned to your student's school or via the mail to:

Child Nutrition Services
2828 Corda Drive
San Jose, CA 95122

If you have any questions, contact Child Nutrition Services.

Your Eligibility Letter

A benefit of participating in Provision 2 is that it reduces the burden on families to complete a Free & Reduced Meal Application every year. Instead, families will complete this form once every four years to make base year funding determinations for the school meal program. Evergreen School District’s base year is 2022-23.

Once your application is processed an eligibility letter will be mailed to your address. Since Free & Reduced Meal applications are not collected in non-base years, Child Nutrition Services can provide a Provision 2 Notice with your eligibility determination made in school year 2022-23. If you are contacted to complete an Education Benefit Form, an eligibility letter will be sent to you once it’s processed. These letters are important documents for your records. They provide important documentation that make you eligible for programs and discounts like P-EBT, afterschool and summer programs, discounted utilities and more. If you need an additional copy of your eligibility letter, complete the eligibility letter request form.

If you still have questions, please see our Frequently Asked Questions regarding free and reduced price meals.

To Apply Education Benefit Form click on the link below:

https://www.nlappscloud.com/Welcome.aspx?api=495e20e56d5496da42cb02a10f3de210

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Free & Reduced Price Meals

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