Free & Reduced-Price Meals

District 401 students may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Eligibility thresholds are determined each year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture based on household size and income level.

Applications for 2018-19 free and reduced-price meals can be submitted beginning Aug. 1, 2018.

Notification of Students and Families

At the beginning of each school year, District 401 shall notify by letter all students and their parents/guardians of:

► Eligibility requirements for free and reduced-price food service
► The application process
► The name and telephone number of a contact person for the program
► Other information required by federal law

Parents/guardians enrolling a child in the District for the first time shall receive the eligibility information regardless of when during the school year the enrollment takes place.

Income Eligibility Guidelines

Not sure if your family is eligible for free or reduced-priced meals? This table shows the income eligibility guidelines for the 2018-19 school year:

How to Apply

To apply for free or reduced-price meals, click here for the online application or contact Ms. Melissa Rodde-Morgese in the District 401 office. She can be reached by email at this address, or by phone at 708-452-5844.

Please do not submit your applications before Aug. 1, 2018!

Families may apply at any time during the school year after Aug. 1. There are no restrictions based on immigration status.

Until You Are Notified of Your Status

Please send students with a bag lunch or money to purchase lunch at school until you are notified of your free/reduced status.

If you qualified for free or reduced-price meals last school year, you can continue on the program for the first two weeks of school.

District 401's Policy on Free and Reduced-Price Meals

Each school's procedures in this area are governed by District 401's policy on free and reduced-price food services, which can be found in Section 4:130 of the Board of Education's District Policy Manual.