Universal School Meals in School Year 2022-2023
In School Year 2022-2023, all students at public schools will receive free breakfast and lunch at school. The State of Vermont has provided money to do this for one year through the Universal School Meals Act. Some Independent Schools may not be providing free meals this year.
Schools still need your help to keep providing free meals to all students in future years. If many families fill out and return the meal application, schools will get more money from the federal government for free school meals now and in the future. They will also get more money for other school programs. Filling out the meal application also helps your community provide free summer meals to all kids, and free meals to kids in childcare.
If you submit the meal application by August 19, 2022, you may also qualify for a Summer 2022 Pandemic-EBT (P-EBT) benefit. This is a one-time benefit of $391 per child to help pay for food at home. If your student was enrolled in school in June 2022, you may get this benefit if the meal application shows that you qualify.
How to Submit an Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals in School Year 2022-2023
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Check to see if you're eligible for free and reduced school meals
Consult the Free and Reduced Lunch Income Eligibility table to see if your student(s) qualify for Free and Reduced Meals based on your household size and income.
Regardless of household income, students who meet any of the following criteria are directly certified (pre-qualified) for free school meals. You should receive a letter from your school telling you that your student has been directly certified for free school meals if your student:
- Is a state-placed foster student (any student in DCF custody)
- Receives services under the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act or the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
- Receives services from the Migrant Education Program
- Lives in a household where any member receives Reach Up (TANF) or 3SquaresVT (SNAP)
- Participates in a federal HeadStart Program
If your student meets one of the above criteria but you have not received a letter from your school, you can complete an application indicating that they fall into one of these categories.
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Check to see if your school district or supervisory union has an online application.
Look for your district on the list of school districts and supervisory unions with online applications. If your student's school is part of a district or superviosry union that has an online application, use it to apply.
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If your district doesn't have an online application, please print out and complete the paper application.
Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals 2022-2023
Once the application is complete, send it back to the school office with your student or mail it to your school.
If you don't have access to a printer, please contact your child's school to request a copy of the form. You only need to submit one application per supervisory union for your family.
If you have any questions about the application, take a look at our list of Frequently Asked Questions. If you still have questions, please contact your school office.
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Your child's school will respond to your application within 10 days. If your application is denied, the communication will include instructions about how to appeal.
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Review other benefits that your family is eligible for once approved for free and reduced price school meals.
List of Districts with Online Applications
The following districts have Free and Reduced Lunch applications on MySchoolApps.com. Choose your district from the drop down menu to begin.
- Addison Central School District
- Burlington School District
- Champlain Valley School District
- Colchester School District
- Essex Westford School District
- Lamoille South Supervisory Union
- South Burlington School District
- Windham Northeast Supervisory Union
- Windsor Southeast Supervisory Union
The following districts have Free and Reduced Lunch applications on LunchApplication.com. Select Vermont from the first drop down menu, then select your school district to begin.
- Lamoille North Supervisory Union
- North Country Supervisory Union
- Orleans Central Supervisory Union
- Windham Central Supervisory Union
The following districts have Free and Reduced Lunch Applications on MealTime. When you first visit the site, you will first need to create a profile. Click the Create new profile link and provide the required information.
- Windham Southeast Supervisory Union
- White River Valley Supervisory Union
- Bennington-Rutland Supervisory Union