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. To apply, use this link:
An approved application is only good for one school year and 30 days into the new school year. You must send in a new application unless you received a letter stating your child is eligible for the new school year.
More Information
Please see the rows below for additional information about free and reduced-price lunch.
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.
Not sure if your family is eligible for free or reduced-priced meals? The following tables show the income eligibility guidelines. The figures for free meal eligibility are also used to determine eligibility for District 401 fee waivers.
|
2022-23 INCOME REQUIREMENTS FOR FREE MEALS |
|||||
|
Household |
Annual |
Monthly |
Pay Twice |
Pay Every |
Weekly |
|
1 |
17,667 |
1,473 |
737 |
680 |
340 |
|
2 |
23,803 |
1,984 |
992 |
916 |
458 |
|
3 |
29,939 |
2,495 |
1,248 |
1,152 |
576 |
|
4 |
36,075 |
3,007 |
1,504 |
1,388 |
694 |
|
5 |
42,211 |
3,518 |
1,759 |
1,624 |
812 |
|
6 |
48,347 |
4,029 |
2,015 |
1,860 |
930 |
|
7 |
54,483 |
4,541 |
2,271 |
2,096 |
1,048 |
|
8 |
60,619 |
5,052 |
2,256 |
2,332 |
1,166 |
|
For each |
6,136 |
512 |
256 |
236 |
118 |
|
2022-23 INCOME REQUIREMENTS FOR REDUCED-PRICE MEALS |
|||||
|
Household |
Annual |
Monthly |
Pay Twice |
Pay Every |
Weekly |
|
1 |
25,142 |
2,096 |
1,048 |
967 |
484 |
|
2 |
33,874 |
2,823 |
1,412 |
1,303 |
652 |
|
3 |
42,606 |
3,551 |
1,776 |
1,639 |
820 |
|
4 |
51,338 |
4,279 |
2,140 |
1,975 |
988 |
|
5 |
60,070 |
5,006 |
2,503 |
2,311 |
1,156 |
|
6 |
68,802 |
5,734 |
2,867 |
2,647 |
1,324 |
|
7 |
77,534 |
6,462 |
3,231 |
2,983 |
1,492 |
|
8 |
86,266 |
7,189 |
3,595 |
3,318 |
1,659 |
|
For each |
8,732 |
728 |
364 |
336 |
168 |
To apply for free or reduced-price meals, use this online application or contact the District 401 Business Office by calling 708-583-5844.
Families may apply at any time during the 2022-23 school year after Aug. 1, 2022. There are no restrictions based on immigration status.
Please send your 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.
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.