Students in both San Marcos and Hays consolidated independent school districts will receive free breakfast and lunch this school year regardless of eligibility.
The United States Department of Agriculture issued guidelines this summer that allow school districts to offer free meals to all students for the 2021-22 school year.
Hays CISD announced the policy Aug. 2, and will not require an application of any sort to be processed or need to determine eligibility.
The USDA expanded the National School Lunch Program in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, allowing for school districts to waive the typical proof of family income and other requirements necessary for a student to receive a free or reduced cost breakfast and lunch.
However, Hays CISD is anticipating that income eligibility requirements will resume in the 2022-23 school year, and will go ahead and process free and reduced cost meal applications for next year now to make sure students begin next school year with their eligibility for the program already in place.
Hays CISD will begin distributing letters for 2022-23 eligibility and instructions families need to take to apply this month.
“It’s one more thing that parents don’t have to worry about this year,” said Tim Savoy, chief communications officer for HCISD.
Savoy did note, however, that “We’re asking people to fill out the form anyway.” That is because other funding, such as federal funds and grants for other programs the district has qualified for in the past, depend on that information. That form can be found on the district’s website.
In San Marcos CISD, all students already have free access to breakfast and lunch if they choose, said Andrew Fernandez, executive director of communications and community outreach for SMCISD. That is because for the past few years, SMCISD has fallen under the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision, Fernandez said.
That provision in the law provides for continuing federal funding to provide free meals universally in the district.
