We are unable to accept applications by phone or fax due to our application processing system. All applications must be submitted on an official form either through our web-based system or official paper application turned in to the school offices or kitchens or to the Food and Nutrition office located at 5260 Geiger Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80915. The on-line system provides a FASTER response time through improved accuracy of data and improved efficiency of process

Besides having your child receive a hot nutritious meal, it is very important for Colorado Springs School District 11 to receive the funding for these nutritious meals. Therefore, completing the Free/Reduced-Price Meal Application and returning it to your child's school or the Nutrition Services office is also as important. School districts receive much of its federal funding for students qualifying for Free/Reduced-Price meals even if you choose to not participate in the school meals program. Just by your qualifying, the district receives money for educational needs.

We may share your eligibility information with federal education programs, state health and nutrition programs to help evaluate, fund or determine benefits for their programs, audits for program state and federal reviews, district finance office.  

To receive meal benefits you must complete a Free/Reduced-Price meal application.  We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so please be sure to fill out all required information.

Completed applications must contain:

• Student(s) Name(s)
• The last 4-digits of the signing household member’s social security number OR check the box indicating "I do not have a Social Security Number"
• If a SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) application, name of person receiving SNAP and the 7-digit alpha-numeric household case number
• If an income application, total household gross income or check the box indicating "No income" for every household member
• Adult Signature

Federal regulation requires that we have a new application on file each school year.

30-Day Carryover from Prior-Year

Students who were on free and reduced meal status at the end of the previous school year will “carry-over” Their prior year’s eligibility status for the first 30 days of school or until a new application is received. This allows for student’s nutritional needs while parents are in the process of reapplying

Some programs within District 11 as well as out of the district may reduce fees if you can show proof that your child qualifies for free or reduced price meals. A student's school meal eligibility status will not be released for any other purpose unless a parent or guardian has consented in writing using the official District 11 Information Release form located on this page.

Federal guidelines require us to conduct income verification of at least 3% of all applications on file each year.  Applications are randomly selected for verification by our computer system.  Within a specified time period, parents/guardians must provide adequate documentation to verify income or information from the application they submitted. If the adequate documentation is not provided, the student could lose free or reduced-price meal benefits.

The following are some scenarios why you might have changed to a full paid status:

Federal guidelines require a new application every school year.  If you do not complete a new application within 30 student contact days from the first day of school, your children will automatically change to full paid status.
Federal guidelines require a random verification of information on applications once a year.  If you do not submit the required documentation within the verification time frame, your student(s) will change to full paid status.
 

Once your application has been processed, we will send you a notification letter stating what your child's meal status will be.  Please keep this letter for your records. The letter will be sent home through the school in your child’s backpack for all households with students in an elementary so please be sure to check your student’s backpack regularly. Households with students in Middle and High school level only will receive their letters by mail and in some cases by email, so please be sure to keep you street address and email address current and up-to-date at your student’s school.
 

Your household will be required to pay the full price for any meal your child purchases at school or you can provide a lunch from home.