Free Meal Waiver Set to Expire

Without further action at the federal level, a waiver from the USDA that has allowed Frisco ISD to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students during the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years will expire, and FISD will resume charging for meals in the 2022-23 school year based on student eligibility for meal benefits. Families who may qualify are encouraged to apply to receive free meals. The 2021-22 meal application will be honored through the first 30 days of the 2022-23 school year while 2022-23 applications are being processed. The 2022-23 meal application will be available after July 1, 2022. 

How Can Students Receive a Free Meal?

All schools must offer foods, individually or in combination dishes, from the following main food groups (called meal components):

• Grains

• Meat or Meat Alternative

• Milk

• Fruit

• Vegetable

The minimum number of components required for a well-balanced, reimbursable meal is three. A reimbursable meal must include the selection of at least one fruit or one vegetable. If a student chooses at least three meal components and at least one fruit or vegetable, the meal will be free for the duration of the 2021-22 school year, regardless of family income.

Students who select fewer than three components, or who do not choose a fruit or vegetable, will be charged for their selections based on a la carte prices. This applies to both breakfast and lunch.

What Makes a Meal Guide (PDF) 

Free and Reduced Application

Although no application is required for students to receive free meals during the 2021-22 school year, Frisco ISD is still urging families who may qualify for free or reduced-price meals to submit an application. There are a number of additional benefits, detailed below, that students can receive when a family qualifies and shares their eligibility status. In addition, Frisco ISD receives additional state and federal funding for each student who qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. These funds provide extra academic support and resources to students and schools.

Online Application Help Guide

Applications may be completed electronically at www.schoolcafe.com/friscoisd, printed directly from the Frisco ISD website, or picked up from your child’s campus or or the Child Nutrition District office. Applications received electronically at www.schoolcafe.com/friscoisd are processed more quickly. NOTE: We can only process applications for the current school year. Please submit only one form per household. Applications for each new school year are available after July 1. 

Paper applications are available in each school’s office and in the school nutrition office. In addition, applications may be downloaded and printed from our website. All paper applications must be submitted in the original form with original signature. It is free to use SchoolCafé if you would like to apply for meal benefits.

Completed applications must be returned to Frisco ISD, Attn: Christie Lesnau, 12050 Rolater Road, Frisco, Texas. Any questions regarding the approval process should be directed to 469-633-6997 or lesnauc@friscoisd.org. 

Download the Free/Reduced Meal Application(English) 
Download the Free/Reduced Meal Application(Spanish)
Directions for Free/Reduced Lunch (English)
Directions for Free/Reduced Lunch (Spanish)

Why Apply for Meal Benefits

Parents should submit a free and reduced-price meal application in order to access the following additional benefits.

DISTRICT DISCOUNTS

Reduced fees for Frisco ISD courses and activities such Summer School, field trips and graduation. Organizations associated with FISD, such as after-school programs and booster clubs, also offer discounts or assistance. 

TECHNOLOGY 

Frisco ISD’s Technology Outreach Program (TOP) provides free technology to elementary students who don’t have access to a computer or wifi at home. A discounted rate is also available for take-home technology at the high school level.  

COMMUNITY SERVICES

Free food, hygiene products and more from outside organizations like Frisco Fastpacs, Lovepacs Frisco and Refresh Frisco, which utilize student meal status to determine eligibility  

COLLEGE RESOURCES 

Free dual credit courses from Collin College, reduced costs for AP Exams, waived SAT and ACT fees, free test prep resources and waived application fees with participating colleges

AT-RISK SUPPORT

Access to additional staff, instructional materials and other academic support. The amount of state and federal funding available to support these resources is based on the number of FISD students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. 

PANDEMIC BENEFITS

Access to Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) payments authorized by the federal government

2021-22 School Year P-EBT

The federal government will make payments to families who meet the household income guidelines for free or reduced lunch based on the number of school days missed during the 2021-22 school year due to COVID-19. The benefit is $7.10 for each eligible day, which includes COVID-related absences, virtual attendance and school closures. If you have already applied and been approved for meal benefits in the 2021-22 school year, no further action is needed at this time to receive the latest Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT). If you believe you may meet the income threshold and have not yet completed the FISD 2021-22 meal application (see instructions above), you are encouraged to do so by April 29 and no later than June 30, 2022 to receive the latest P-EBT.

P-EBT benefits for the first semester (August 2021–December 2021) should be issued in late April 2022. The second semester (January 2022–June 2022) benefits will be issued in July 2022. You might receive benefits for both semesters in July.

To learn more about eligibility, applying and getting your P-EBT benefits, visit hhs.texas.gov/pebt, or call the P-EBT Call Center at 833-442-1255, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Central time.