FREE AND REDUCED-PRICED MEALS
YOU MUST COMPLETE A NEW FREE/REDUCED APPLICATION EVERY YEAR!
Those who qualified for free/reduced priced meals last school year have until Oct. 1st to complete a new application.
Online Free and Reduced Priced Meal Applications are available via Family Access
**online applications will be processed most quickly**
Please allow 10 business days for our office to process your application.
You will receive a yellow letter in the mail stating if you qualified for benefits and if so, what (free or reduced).
Students who currently receive SNAP/TANF do not need to complete an application.
Students who received SNAP/TANF last year and no longer receive SNAP/TANF have until Oct. 1st to complete a new application.
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If you believe your student qualifies for free or reduced-price meals based on the below income eligibility guidelines (and you have not already completed an app this school year), please complete an application today!
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Student who qualified for SNAP/TANF for the 23-24 school year or qualified for free or reduced-price meals for the 23-24 school year, have UNTIL OCT. 1ST to complete a new application.
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ONLINE Free and Reduced Priced Meal Applications are available via Family Access.
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Paper copies are available at the Student Nutrition Office or you may download here: Free and Reduced Meals Application. Original paper applications can be returned to our office (851 West Street, Rapid City, SD 57701) via mail, via dropbox outside our North facing door, or in-person during business hours (7am-3:30pm). Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.
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Please note applications can not be completed through the LINQ Connect App.
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Please check out this video to help you fill out your application.
Please see below for more information:
- You must complete a new application every year.
- Only one application needs to be submitted per household.
- Children in households receiving SNAP or TANF can get free meals without applying. The Office of Student Nutrition will be directly notified by DSS.
- NOTE: it could take up to 10 days to process & approve your application. Your child must pay for his/her lunch or bring a lunch from home until the application is approved.
Please check out this video to help you complete an ONLINE application.
*Start at 2:53 for step-by-step instructions*
Please check out this video to help you complete a PAPER application.
Other Helpful Information Regarding Free and Reduced Priced Meals:
24-25 Meal Prices:
| Breakfast | Lunch | |
| Elementary School | $2.40 | $3.15 |
| Middle School | $2.45 | $3.50 |
| High School | $2.50 | $3.65 |
Community Eligibility Provision
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. CEP allows high poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications.
2024-2025 CEP Schools: General Beadle, Horace Mann, Knollwood, North Middle School, Robbinsdale, and South Park
What does this mean for you and your students attending CEP schools?
Your student will receive breakfast and lunch at no charge without having to pay a fee or submit a Free and Reduced Price Meals Application.
No further action is required UNLESS you also have students who do NOT attend the above schools and you’d like to submit a Free and Reduced Meals Application for them. Please include all students (attending CEP or non-CEP schools) on your application, as they are all included in your household.
*NOTE: If your child transfers to a non-CEP school (a school NOT listed above) during the school year you will be responsible for their meal charges. We encourage you to fill out a Free and Reduced Price Meals Application if you think you may qualify.