Free & Reduced Meal Information

Free and Reduced Priced Meal Applications (Non-CEP Schools Only):

If your student is enrolled at a Non-CEP school (Britt David Magnet Academy, Columbus High or Mathews Elementary), a new application will need to be completed and approved every school year before your child can qualify for free or reduced-price meal benefits. For quicker processing, an online application is available at https://www.myschoolapps.com/. If you prefer, a paper application is available upon request at your child’s school or at the School Nutrition Office at 2960 Macon Road. If completing a paper application, we must receive an original since these applications are scanned. We cannot accept a faxed or copied application. ONLY ONE application needs to be completed for your entire household. If you receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) OR TANF, you must include the current CASE number on the application (NOT the EBT or food stamp card number) and indicate whether the program is SNAP or TANF. Completed applications are processed within 10 days after they are received in the School Nutrition office. Families will be notified by email or mail stating if the application has been approved or denied. Only complete applications can be processed. Please provide your child(ren) with money to purchase meals until approvals are received.

If you have an approved MCSD 2023-2024 application on file, benefits will be extended for the first 30 days of the 2024-2025 school year (or until a new eligibility determination is made, whichever comes first). After that, your child’s status will change to PAYING and they will be charged for meals until a new application is approved. If your application has been denied or is incomplete, please call our office with any questions: 706-748-2389. Applications can be submitted at any time throughout the year, especially if your income goes down, you lose your job, your family qualifies for SNAP or TANF benefits, or there is a change in your family size. For quicker processing of meal benefit applications, the Family Meal Application is available online at https://www.myschoolapps.com/. If you prefer, you may complete a paper application at your child’s school or at the School Nutrition Office located at the Muscogee County Public Education Center, 2960 Macon Road.

Important information to remember:

· School Nutrition Managers are available to answer questions on free and reduced applications or other meal-related concerns and to accept money towards the student’s account.

· A new Free and Reduced application must be completed annually.

· Parents should not complete a free and reduced application for students at CEP schools although those children should be included as siblings of a student at Mathews, Britt David or Columbus High.

· Applications can be submitted electronically using the link on the MCSD website.

· Please return completed applications in a timely manner so that the student’s meals are captured under the proper status.