In Family Applications, our job is to ensure that every family who qualifies is eligible to receive Free or Reduced Cost Meals, which include Breakfast and Lunch.  Qualifications are based on income and household size.  Please complete a Family Meal Application for your students and return it to your students’ school. Everyone can apply!  There is not a limit on how many free or reduced meals we serve. 

Because this is a federally funded lunch program, every year we will randomly select 3% of all applications completed for verification of income.  You will be notified by U.S. Mail to return verification documentation in self-addressed stamped envelopes to Child Nutrition Services.  Samples of acceptable documents will be enclosed with the verification notice.

Spanish applications and verification information are available upon request.  

There are many reasons why a free and reduced application should be completed.

• Research has clearly documented the importance of nutrition to learning.

• It clearly saves families up to $425.00 per year in meal cost.

• Your student’s school receives funding from state and federal sources based on the number of students qualifying for free and reduced price meals. These funds are used by the school to provide supplies, books, teacher and paraprofessional pay and training, which allows your student a greater chance of succeeding in school.

• Money for additional technology is provided to the school based on the number of students qualifying for free and reduced price meals.

Before each new School Year………

In late July, several thousand lunch applications are sent by U.S. Mail to those students who were enrolled the previous year for early qualification, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope.  Some students are pre-approved through DHS.  In addition, students will each receive a family lunch application from their school.  On each lunch application are detailed instructions on how to apply for the Free and Reduced Meal Program.  Family Lunch Applications can be returned to any school in the Tulsa Public School District. 

A very important point:
            Unless a student is a foster child, ALL students are to be listed on ONE lunch application.  If a student is a foster child, each student must be listed on a separate lunch application.

Upon arrival at the Education Service Center, Child Nutrition Service Department:

• Checks application for completeness and then process it to determine
  eligibility.

• Student information and status are entered in computers at the Education Service Center and communicated to each school cafeteria on a daily basis.

• Parents will receive an approval letter that is sent home with each student.

If incomplete:

• Child Nutrition Service staff at the Education Service Center will obtain
  information from families by phone when possible.

• Forms noting any missing information will be sent from the Education Service Center to students’ homes by U.S. Mail when unable to contact households by telephone.

• The parents can then return the completed forms in self-addressed stamped envelopes provided by Child Nutrition Services.

INTER-DISTRICT TRANSFERS

Children approved for free and reduced cost meals that transfer within the district do not complete a new family application form, unless there has been a change of income.

When a student arrives at a new school, office staff will, as quickly as possible, notify the cafeteria manager of the child’s complete name and former school.  The cafeteria manager may call the Child Nutrition Services Office for status information.

SOONER CARE OF OKLAHOMA

Under part 6 of the family lunch application, there is a section to apply for information concerning free or low cost health insurance for your student.  Sooner Care applications are also located at each Tulsa Public School.