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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.  

1. 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.

1. 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.

2. 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 or call Migrant Education at (907)742-4275.

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. 

Children in households receiving WIC or Denali Kid Care benefits DO NOT automatically qualify for free meal benefits. You must apply each school year.

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.

Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meals.

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.

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.  

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.

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.