Free and Reduced Price Meals Program

Summer Meal Information

Menu

The Cascade School District has two schools that offer free meals (breakfast and lunch). ALL STUDENTS in the following schools will receive meals at no cost in school year 2024-2025:

• Peshastin-Dryden Elementary School

• Alpine Lakes Elementary School

If you attend either of these schools, you must still complete a Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit Application (formerly Free&Reduced form) once a year so that the school can continue to qualify for free meals. If you would like a paper copy, they are available at your student's school. OR, you can DOWNLOAD the form here.

Why will these schools provide free meals?

House Bill 1238 (HB 1238) mandates that Local Education Agencies (LEAs) provide meals at no cost to students enrolled at elementary schools where 30% or more of children eligible for free or reduced-price meals. This requirement begins in the 2024-25 year and is based on the preceding year's October Building Data. In prior years the threshold for free or reduced-price meals was 40% or more.

Regardless of this change, it is important that all families, regardless of income, apply for free and reduced-price meals. Completion of this form may help provide important funding for our schools, as well as continue and possibly expand our ability to serve meals at no cost. If qualified, families may also receive waived or reduced fees for certain programs, like sports, clubs, preschool tuition, and other items. You should complete the Free and Reduced Price Meal Application if:

• Your household income is the SAME or LESS than the amount on the Income Chart below.

• You take part in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

• You take part in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation (FDPIR)

• You receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

• You are a Foster Child

• You are a Migrant Student

• You are a Homeless Student

• You are enrolled at any of our schools

The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program that provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost, or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946. A school's qualification for the program, Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), is based on the percentage of families with students attending school who participate in state-funded assistance programs such as SNAP, WIC, etc. The data comes from the state database of assistance program participation.

Your information remains confidential and is never sold or disclosed.

We encourage all eligible families to submit a new application for free and reduced-price meals at the start of each new school year before October 31. However, application are accepted anytime throughout the school year. Only one application per household is necessary.

Fill out the following forms, and return to our Nutrition Services office, any school, district office, or simply email FS@cascadesd.org.

Nutrition Services
District Office
330 Evans St
Leavenworth WA 98826

All information received regarding free & reduced eligibility is kept confidential.

FORMS

• NEW! Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education and Benefit Application 2024-2025

• Consent to Share Eligibility Application

  
  See Other Benefits Section for more information.

  ESPANOL

• Solicitud de grupo familiar para recibir comidas gratuitas y de precio reducido

• Consentimiento para compartir la informacion de elegibilidad

Reduced Fee Benefits

Families who qualify for free and reduced price meals may be eligible to receive reduced fees for the following programs:

• Athletic Fees

• Extracurricular Trips

• Associated Student Body (ASB) Fees

• Extracurricular Fees and Dues

• Preschool Tuition & Transportation

• Advanced Placement Tests

• College Application Fees

• Pre-College Exams (PSAT,SAT)

FORM

• Consent to Share Eligibility Form

• Consentimiento para compartir la informacion de elegibilidad

Added benefits if eligible include reduced or waived fees for school programs such as ASB card, sports fees, testing, and more. We must have a signed form on file in each new school year in order to waive fees.