• Meal Benefits

    2025-2026 Letter to Household

    Plano ISD participates in the federal meal program, which provides free and reduced-price meals for students who qualify. Families who may qualify for meal benefits are encouraged to complete a federal meal application for the 2025-26 school year. Applications may be completed through SchoolCafé by logging in to your account, or by creating a new account.

  • Meal Benefits Eligibility Expiration

    Students who qualified for free or reduced-price meals at the end of last school year are eligible to participate at their current eligibility status for the first 30 operating days of the 2025-26 school year or until a new eligibility determination is made whichever comes first.

    • In order for meal benefits to continue, a federal meal application for the 2025-26 school year must be completed.
    • Students with no application on file after 30 operating days will return to full-paid eligibility status effective September 23, 2025.
    • Households that have submitted a federal meal application for free or reduced-priced meals for the 2025-26 school year do not need to reapply.
    • Households who wish to apply for free or reduced-priced meals will need to complete an online federal meal application for the current school year.
    • Applications will be processed within 10 business days.
    • Eligibility notification letters will be sent via email.
      • If you have not received the letter in your inbox, please check your junk and spam folders.
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  • Am I Eligible?

    Families that have a gross household income within the limits determined by federal government guidelines qualify for the Free and Reduced Program. Only one application is needed for all children in your household who attend Plano ISD schools.

    Additionally, families receiving benefits from any of the following special programs may be eligible for the Free and Reduced Program:

    • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
    • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
    • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

    Families must complete the Free and Reduced Program application and include their Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number in the application to be approved.

    Foster, Homeless, Runaway, or Children of Migrant Farmers

    • Foster children under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for the Free and Reduced Program regardless of the income of their resident household.
    • Students who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or children of migrant farmers qualify.
    • Your U.S. citizenship or immigration status does not affect your eligibility. 

    Families must complete the Free and Reduced Program application and include the Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number in the application to be approved.

    Early Childhood

    • Children attending Head Start, Early Head Start, and Even Start are also eligible for the Free and Reduced Program.
    • Pre-K Families wishing to access the Free and Reduced Program should complete an application.