• Plano Independent School District

    Dear Parent/Guardian:

    Children need healthy meals to learn. Plano ISD offers healthy meals every school day. For elementary schools, breakfast costs $2.00 and lunch costs $3.00. For middle schools, breakfast costs $2.00 and lunch costs $3.50 (traditional lunch) or $3.85 (concept lunch). For high schools, breakfast costs $2.00 (traditional breakfast) or $3.00 (premium breakfast) and lunch costs $3.65 (traditional lunch) or $3.90 (concept lunch). Reduced price is $0.00 for breakfast and lunch. Your child(ren) may qualify for free and reduced-price meals. If you received a notification letter that a child is directly certified for free or reduced-price meals, do not complete an application. Let the school know if any children in the household attending school are not listed in the letter.

    The questions and answers that follow and attached directions provide additional information on how to complete the application. Complete only one application for all the students in the household. Contact Food and Nutritional Services 469-752-5790 or email mealprograms@pisd.edu with your questions.
    1. Who Can Get Free Meals?
      • Income—Children can get free or reduced-price meals if a household’s gross income is within the limits described in the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.
      • Special Assistance Program Participants—Children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food Distribution Program for Households on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), are eligible for free meals.
      • Foster—Foster children who are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals. For foster student, call district foster liaison at(469) 752-2218.
      • Head Start or Early Head Start—Children participating in these programs are eligible for free meals.
      • Homeless, Runaway, and children of Migrant Farmer— Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or children of migrant farmer qualify for free meals. If you haven’t been told about a child’s status as homeless, runaway, or children of migrant farmer or you feel a child may qualify for one of these programs, please call Homeless or Runaway liaison at (469) 752-2218; for children of Migrant Farmers, call (469) 752-2204.
      • WIC Recipient—Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
    2. What If I Disagree with the School’s Decision About My Application?
      • If you do not agree with the decision, contact (469) 752-5790 or email mealprograms@pisd.edu. You have the right to a fair hearing, email letter of appeal to: Deputy Superintendent for Business & Employee Services, 2700 W. 15th Street, Plano, TX 75075, TEL: 469-752-8100.
    3. My Child’s Application Was Approved Last Year. Do I Need to Fill Out A New One?
      • Yes. An application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year. Send in a new application unless the school has told you that 
    1. If I Don’t Qualify Now, May I Apply Later?
      • Yes. Apply at any time during the school year. A child with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.
    2. What If My Income Is Not Always the Same?
      • List the amount normally received. If a household member lost a job or had hours/wages reduced, use current income.
    3. We Are in The Military. Do We Report Our Income Differently?
      • Basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. Any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, or Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance payments count as income. If housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include the housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is excluded from income.
    4. May I Apply If Someone in My Household Is Not a U.S. Citizen?
      • Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meals.
    5. Will Application Information Be Checked?
      • Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the reported household income.
    6. My Family Needs More Help. Are There Other Programs We Might Apply For?
      • To find out how to apply for other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or 2-1-1.
    7. Can I Apply Online?
      • Yes. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Visit https://www.schoolcafe.com/pisd to begin or to learn more about the online application process.

  • If you have other questions or need help, call Food and Nutritional Services (469)752-5790 or email mealprograms@pisd.edu.

    Sincerely,

    Compliance and Technology Specialist, Plano ISD

     In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

    To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: obtained online and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

    This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

    Letter for Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals | Updated May 31, 2024