MEAL BENEFIT applications FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR open July 10, 2023.
FAMILIES ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEAL APPLICATIONS every year to receive meal benefits.
During the pandemic, the Arlington ISD was able to offer no cost meals to all students due to temporary program flexibilities provided by the federal government. These flexibilities have expired. Starting with the 2022-23 school year, schools are required to return to charging for school meals on the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) based on program eligibility.
To get started, choose your school below and then click on the ‘Complete the Form’ button.
Meal applications are also for state-funded programs, to help ensure students receive all state funding and benefits available to their school and for appropriate comparisons for state accountability purposes.
Free and Reduced Meals Information
Please apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits by completing a meal benefits application.
Complete the Online Application
(Instructions are located in each section of the form)
Meal benefit paper applications are available throughout the school year at 1206 W. Arkansas, Arlington, TX. 76013, during school days, M-F, 7:30am to 4:30pm.
Directions for Applying for Meal Benefits
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can receive free meals?
Children in households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program), or TANF can get free meals regardless of your income. Your benefit letter from Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is your documentation for free meals. If you have not already received a letter from the AISD Food & Nutrition Services Office stating that your household is eligible for free meals, you may bring your HHSC benefit letter to the Food & Nutrition Services Office to be certified for free meals. If a child in your household is directly certified due to receiving SNAP or TANF benefits, all children of your household are eligible for free meals. If a child in your household is not included on the Letter of Direct Certification, sent to you by the district, or if you have questions, call the AISD Food & Nutrition Services Office at (682) 867-7895.
Who can receive reduced price meals?
Your children can receive low-cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Chart.
If I don’t qualify now, may I apply again later?
Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start receiving SNAP or TANF benefits (such as unemployment benefits).
What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application?
You should talk to the Food & Nutrition Services Office at (682) 867-7895. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Food Service Director, 1206 W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington, Texas 76013.
What if I have a child(ren) attending a school operating CEP and a child(ren) attending a school not operating CEP?
To receive free or reduced-price meal benefits for your child(ren) attending schools other than the CEP schools listed below, you will need to apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits by completing a meal benefits application. When completing the meal benefits application, you will need to list all children in the household on the meal benefits application. We also ask that you complete a Household Family Data Collections form in order for your child’s school operating CEP to receive all the State funding and benefits available.
| Adams Elementary | McNutt Elementary |
| Amos Elementary | Morton Elementary |
| Anderson Elementary | Nichols Junior High |
| Atherton Elementary | Patrick Elementary |
| Berry Elementary | Peach Elementary |
| Blanton Elementary | Pope Elementary |
| Burgin Elementary | Rankin Elementary |
| Carter Junior High | Remynse Elementary |
| Crouch Elementary | Sam Houston High School |
| Crow Elementary | Shackelford Junior High |
| Ellis Elementary | Sherrod Elementary |
| Farrell Elementary | Short Elementary |
| Foster Elementary | South Davis Elementary |
| Goodman Elementary | Speer Elementary |
| Hale Elementary | Swift Elementary |
| Johns Elementary | Thornton Elementary |
| Kooken Educational Center | Webb Elementary |
| Larson Elementary | Workman Junior High |
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
Children attending this school, which is operating the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), will receive free breakfast and lunch without families completing the free and reduced-price meal application. To help ensure students receive all State funding and benefits available to their school and for appropriate comparisons for State accountability purposes, families with children at a school operating CEP will be asked to complete a Household Family Data Collection form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have a child(ren) attending a school operating CEP and a child(ren) attending a school not operating CEP?
To receive free or reduced-price meal benefits for your child(ren) attending schools other than the CEP schools listed below, you will need to apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits by completing a meal benefits application. When completing the meal benefits application, you will need to list all children in the household on the meal benefits application. We also ask that you complete a Household Family Data Collections form in order for your child’s school operating CEP to receive all the State funding and benefits available.
| Adams Elementary | McNutt Elementary |
| Amos Elementary | Morton Elementary |
| Anderson Elementary | Nichols Junior High |
| Atherton Elementary | Patrick Elementary |
| Berry Elementary | Peach Elementary |
| Blanton Elementary | Pope Elementary |
| Burgin Elementary | Rankin Elementary |
| Carter Junior High | Remynse Elementary |
| Crouch Elementary | Sam Houston High School |
| Crow Elementary | Shackelford Junior High |
| Ellis Elementary | Sherrod Elementary |
| Farrell Elementary | Short Elementary |
| Foster Elementary | South Davis Elementary |
| Goodman Elementary | Speer Elementary |
| Hale Elementary | Swift Elementary |
| Johns Elementary | Thornton Elementary |
| Kooken Educational Center | Webb Elementary |
| Larson Elementary | Workman Junior High |
What if I transfer from a school in the CEP program?
If your child transfers from a school operating CEP to a school not operating CEP, you will need to apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits by completing a meal benefits application.
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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 (including gender identity and sexual orientation), 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: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
program.intake@usda.gov
- mail:
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
