- Anchorage School District
- Overview & Services
- FAQ - Free and Reduced Meals
Student Nutrition
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Free and Reduced Priced Meals
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Who should apply?
Any household with a student attending a school requiring payment for meals may apply. For current list of Pricing Schools go to www.asdk12.org/nutrition, under “Free and Reduced Meal Application” tab.
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How do I apply?
We encourage applicants to apply online. Apply online now at www.schoolcafe.com/anchorage.
Click Here for Video Tutorial: Online Application Tutorial
Click Here to download tutorial file: School Cafe Application Parent Guide
You may request a paper application from your students' school's front office. Paper applications must be filled out completely and turned back into your school's front office.
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Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
No. Use ONE Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application for ALL ASD students in your household, including incoming Kindergarteners and PreK. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so please be sure to fill out all the required information. Return the completed application to your school registrar or to address below.
Student Nutrition
1307 Labar Street
Anchorage, Alaska 99515 -
What if there isn’t enough space on the application for my family?
Apply online, if you must submit a paper copy list additional household members on a separate piece of paper, and attach it to your application.
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Will the information I give be verified?
Yes, we may ask for written proof of the household income or foster status you report. Proof of an active SNAP or TANF case number is the case letter from Public Assistance titled “Free School Meals/Direct Certification” dated after July 01, 2024, email this letter directly to Student Nutrition at snadmin@asdk12.org.
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How will I know if my children qualify?
You will receive a written notification via mail. Please make sure your student profile mailing address (rather than the parent address) is updated in Q/ParentConnection and at each students’ school to ensure you receive notices about your application. Parents who apply through www.schoolcafe.com/anchorage will have access to their letter as soon as the application is processed.
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If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later?
- Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, gross income goes down, or if you start receiving SNAP (Food Stamps), TANF or other benefits.
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How do I know if my children qualify as homeless, runaway or migrant?
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Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please call the child in transition liaison at 742-3833 or visit the CIT website at www.asdk12.org/CITH.
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Households participating in personal subsistence fishing (salt and freshwater), clamming, crabbing, shrimping, commercial fishing, fish processing, logging, or agricultural work may visit the Migrant Education website to take a survey to screen for eligibility www.asdk12.org/Page/5557 or call Migrant Education at (907)742-4275.
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Do I need to fill out an application if I received a letter for the 24-25 school year saying my children are approved for free meals?
No, but please read the letter carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact Student Nutrition immediately to avoid the possibility of incurring lunch charges.
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I receive WIC and/or Denali Kid Care; can my children get free meals?
Children in households receiving WIC or Denali Kid Care benefits DO NOT automatically qualify for free meal benefits. You must apply each school year.
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What if I disagree with the school district’s determination of my application?
You may contact Student Nutrition to discuss your eligibility determination. You may also request a hearing by writing to: Student Nutrition Director, 1307 Labar Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99515.
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May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meals.
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What if my income is not always the same?
List the gross income amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1,000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1,000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income. Please be sure to fill out the gross income frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, bi-monthly or monthly) or your application will be returned and/ or delayed.
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What if some household members have no income to report?
If members of the household receive no income, please write a 0 in the field. If any income fields are left empty, we will assume their income is 0.
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We are in the military. Do we report our income differently?
Your basic pay, COLA, and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, or receive Family Subsistence Allowance payments, it must also be included as income. You do not claim BAH if you live on base or post. BAH must be included as income for those who live off base or post. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.
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My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for?
To find out more about assistance programs in Alaska visit www.dhss.alaska.gov/dpa Contact Student Nutrition Office via email at SNAdmin@asdk12.org or at (907)348-5145 or for further assistance.
2-1-1 is also a good resource for emergency support.
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If your household gross income falls in or below this chart, you may qualify for free or reduced-priced meals.
FEDERAL ELIGIBILITY INCOME CHART for School Year 2024-2025
Household
Size
Annual
Monthly
Twice per
Month
Every Two Weeks
Weekly
1
34,799
2,900
1,450
1,339
670
2
47,249
3,938
1,969
1,818
909
3
59,700
4,975
2,488
2,297
1,149
4
72,150
6,013
3,007
2,775
1,388
5
84,601
7,051
3,526
3,254
1,627
6
97,051
8,088
4,044
3,733
1,867
7
109,502
9,126
4,563
4,212
2,106
8
121,952
10,163
5,082
4,691
2,346
For each additional family member add:
12,451
1,038
519
479
240
Still have questions? Contact Student Nutrition Office via email at SNAdmin@asdk12.org or at (907) 348-5145 for further assistance.
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USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
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
This institution is an equal-opportunity provider.
- mail: