As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provided waivers to allow all children to eat at no cost through the USDA Seamless Summer Option program.
Since April 2020, children throughout the United States have been able to eat meals at schools at no cost to them.
However, the USDA no longer has the authority to grant such waivers, and, as such, school meal service will resume in the 2022-2023 school year through the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program, operating as it did prior to the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020.
As a result, it will be EXTREMELY important that all families who believe their children qualify for free or reduced meals complete the application for the 2022-2023 school year.
Families can visit our website at https://bit.ly/3PZUcEN for two items: a Frequently Asked Questions document about free and reduced-price school meals and a free and reduced-price application for the 2022-2023 school year.
Families are welcome to print the application, fill it out and return it to the Board of Education, 102 Elizabeth St., Ashland City, TN 37015 or the applications can be returned to your child’s school when school resumes. Applications will also be available at each school at the beginning of the new school year.
Families can also complete the application via Skyward beginning in mid-July. We will communicate with families when Skyward is accessible.
Applications must be submitted and approved each school year for a student to receive benefits.
Beginning with the 2022-2023 school, ONLY students CURRENTLY enrolled in the free and reduced-price meal program will continue to receive these benefits for 30 days starting in August 2022.