Meal Eligibility Benefits process – Meal Application - Important!

If you think your family may be eligible for free or reduced meal benefits, please fill out a meal application in English or Spanish. Students who received free or reduced meal eligibility last school year must fill out the meal application for this school year to maintain eligibility.  Only one form is necessary per household.  Forms have been emailed to you but are also available online at myschoolapps.com, at your school office or the Food service office at St. Helena Elementary next to the cafeteria.  All information on forms remains confidential within food services and for district purposes only. 

       Why is it very important to  fill out the Meal Application Form if meals are free to all students this year?

• Meal eligibility determines Federal and State funding received for each meal served.  This year's meal eligibility statuses will be used for the following three school years.
• Free or reduced-priced eligibility meal benefits gives you other benefits such as reduced school and activity fees, medical benefits, housing benefits, utility benefits and additional school funding for programs that help everyone!

Households do not need to turn in a meal application when the household receives a notification letter saying that all children automatically qualify for free meal benefits when any household member receives benefits from  CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR. Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, and children enrolled in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meal eligibility benefits. Contact school officials if any child in the household is not on the notification letter.  The household must let school officials know if they do not want to qualify for free or reduced-price meal eligibility benefits.