Overview
Parents or guardians that wish to apply for free or reduced price meal benefits must contact the school where your child attends to obtain the appropriate Federal Child Nutrition Program applications.
Application Materials
SFAs are required to distribute Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application packets to all households in the district on or around the beginning of the school year, but not before July 1.
The following documents must be included in the packet:
- Free and Reduced Meal Application (Free and Reduced Meal Application with no CEP language) (Spanish) (Hmong)
For instructions on how to fill out an application, please view the Filling out the Household Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals webcast.
If application materials are needed in languages other than those noted above (i.e. Limited English Proficiency (LEP)), please visit the USDA FNS Translated Applications webpage or contact the DPI School Nutrition Team at 608-267-9228. The USDA 'I Speak' Statements can help SFAs identify specific language needs.
To make changes to the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application, please send an email describing the edits to dpifns@dpi.wi.gov. After reviewing the request, DPI will send you an unprotected version of the application.
Online Applications
If an SFA uses an online application, the software vendor distributing these applications to households must be DPI approved. The approved vendor listing is updated annually. As a reminder, applications cannot be posted or distributed prior to July 1.
Read Approved Vendor List
| Vendor | Date Approved |
| Currently under review | Currently under review |
Income Eligibility Guidelines
The Income Eligibility Guidelines for School Year 2022-2023 are for school staff only and are used in the processing of Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications. SFAs utilizing a software system for approval of applications should confirm the system uses the current guidelines.
Independent Review of Applications
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) that demonstrate high levels of or are at a high risk for administrative error associated with certification and benefit issuance, are required to conduct a second review of all applications received by October 31. SFAs are notified if they are required to conduct a second review.
- Questions and Answers Related to the Independent Review of Applications SP 44-2014, 4/30/14
- Independent Review of Applications Final Rule Federal Register, 2/6/14
- Independent Review of Applications Report
- Only SFAs notified by the State Agency need to complete this report.