The Massachusetts prototype School Year (SY) 2023-2024 Free and Reduced Price School Meals Household Application Packet, including all meal benefit issuance and verification forms, is currently available. USDA has updated the application prototype and it is available for SY 23-24 in a form fillable PDF version. The SY 23-24 Income Eligibility Guidelines document is also available. Massachusetts' prototype documents are derived from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prototype materials found at Applying for Free and Reduced Price School Meals. Please reference SP 16-2023:Revised Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov). Massachusetts prototype materials are found in the Document and Reference Library of the DESE Security Portal. These forms are recommended for use as they include all mandatory USDA and MA DESE information. Any Local Educational Agency that wishes to use a web-based application must submit the Online Application Questionnaire (please contact your DESE consultant). The questionnaire is intended to ensure that the scanned or web-based household application process meets the requirements. Any web-based application identified as not meeting the USDA requirements may result in fiscal action.
At this time, the FY 24 state budget is not yet finalized, and we await the securing of the continuation of meals at no cost for all students for the upcoming school year. The letters to households and public release templates available in the document and reference library of the security portal reflect messaging that meals are offered at no cost to all students. FNP is recommending districts not currently operating the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) district wide wait to issue these communications until the State budget is passed and the funding is secured. Letters specifically for CEP schools are also available in the security portal.
The meal benefit application packet available in the Document and Reference Library of the Security Portal includes the following:
SY 23-24 Income Eligibility Guidelines; separate document intended for school use only.
MA DESE has created Public Media Release prototypes for individual LEAs use. The prototypes are for traditional claiming schools, CEP districts, and districts with both traditional claiming schools and CEP schools.
The Massachusetts Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals should be used whenever possible. Please be advised that use of outdated or unapproved documents may result in a fiscal disallowance.
The Limited English Proficiency Taglines Cover Page and USDA I Speak… documents should be included in the beginning of any communication sent to parents to assist in determining the language needs of a particular household. These documents are included in the Letters to Households and the Notification Letters. To accommodate a person with LEP use the translated USDA application package in their preferred language. Forty nine (49) different languages are available at Translated Applications. Additional instructions about diminishing participation barriers for Limited English Proficient (LEP) households are found in the Eligibility Manual for School Meals available in the Document and Reference Library and at Eligibility Manual for School Meals .
The Sharing Information with Other Programs is included in the packet and may be used for specific programs that are not covered by the federal/state education program as authorized by law. The name of the program(s) must be identified on the release form and parental/guardian signature must be obtained prior to the release of any information. CEP Schools may include these forms when notifying households of direct certification matches if applicable. Parental consent is not required when sharing student eligibility information with other Child Nutrition Programs such as the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Please refer to the Eligibility Manual for School Meals for complete information.
The SY 23-24 Income Eligibility Guidelines have been released and are located in DESE's Document and Reference Library of the security portal under NSLP – Household Application. Do not include the Income Eligibility Guidelines document as part of the application package. It is for school use only!
Please remember: All Public, Private, Charter Schools and RCCI's with DAY students MUST CONDUCT Direct Certification at least three times during the school year via the MA Virtual Gateway. Community Eligibility Provision Schools and Provision 2 non base year schools MUST CONDUCT Direct Certification at least once annually. More frequent direct certification efforts are permissible and encouraged for all school districts.
If you have any questions regarding the USDA School Nutrition Programs, please contact:
Kerry Callahan 781-338-6462
Ebonique Faria 781-338-6461
Danielle Reidy 781-338-6475
Julianna Valcour 781-338-6465
Bridget Ziniti 781-338-6496
Available in the Document and Reference Library are Massachusetts prototype forms
Required information that must be provided to households:
Required Verification documents and information for households selected for verification of eligibility information materials (CEP and Provision 2 non base year schools are exempt):
Optional application-related materials that should be provided to households. CEP and Provision 2 non base year schools can attach these materials to the notice of direct certification:
The pages are designed to be printed on 8½" by 11" paper. Some pages may be printed front and back. You will need to identify the benefits that are offered in your school, such as afterschool snacks. The [bold, bracketed fields] indicate where you need to insert school district specific information. For example, you must include your district's no-charge telephone number for verification assistance on the verification materials. This prototype application package includes information regarding the exclusion of housing allowance for those in the Military Housing Privatization Initiative. If this is not pertinent to your school district, please modify as appropriate. A hearing procedure guidelines document is also included for the district to use to develop their district specific hearing procedures.
All households must be notified of their eligibility status. Households with children who are denied benefits must be given written notification of the denial. The notification must advise the household of the reason for the denial of benefits, the right to appeal, instruction on how to appeal, and a statement that the family may re-apply for free and reduced price meal benefits at any time during the school year. Households with children who are approved for free or reduced price benefits with an application may be notified in writing or orally.
If you have questions, contact:
Julianna Valcour School Nutrition Programs Coordinator Office for Food and Nutrition Programs Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street Malden, MA 02148 Julianna.Valcour@mass.gov or 781-338-6465
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.