Hays CISD officials announced July 25 that it will return to charging students for school meals and will offer free or reduced-price meals based on eligibility for the 2022-23 school year. Both Hays and San Marcos CISDs offered free meals to students during the 2021-22 school year, as previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued guidelines last year prior to the start of the 2021-22 school year that allowed districts to offer free meals. However, Congress did not authorize the funds that would have allowed for free meals for the upcoming school year, according to a press release from the district.

Students seeking free or reduced-price lunch must fill out an application available on www.schoolcafe.com. Applications can be submitted online or to any school office, according to the release. The application will determine whether a student is eligible based on income; categorical or automatic eligibility, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Food Distribution on Indian Reservations; or children who are in foster care, homeless, a runaway, a migrant, displaced by a declared disaster, or enrolled in Head Start or Even Start.

SMCISD students and students at Camino Real, Hemphill, Science Hall, Uhland elementary schools and Simon Middle School in HCISD will still be eligible for free meals through the Community Eligibility Provision, a free meal option for schools and districts in low-income areas.