Education Benefit Form
All students in St Vrain Valley Schools will have access to free healthy, nutritious school meals beginning in the 2023-24 school year thanks to the Health School Meals for All program approved by Colorado voters.
Our District is very excited to participate in the program. Here is some additional information and a few important reminders about what this means for our schools and families.
- Please continue to fill out the Education Benefit Form. While meals will be provided for free to all St Vrain students through Healthy School Meals for All, it’s important for us to continue gathering this information to receive full access to available federal funds that support educational programs at your school.
- We ask all St Vrain families to please complete the form during registration for the 2024-25 school year. By providing this information, you will help our district access all available funds and grants to assist in educational programs for students. Plus, families who fill out the form may qualify to receive discounted school fees, class materials, bus passes, utilities support and more!
- All household income information provided through this form is strictly confidential and protected by law. Only one form is required for all children in the household. Immigration, migrant, citizenship or refugee status is not required when completing the form.
If you have questions about completing the form, please contact your school’s nutrition department. Learn more about the Healthy School Meals for All program in this short video:
Family Benefits to Submitting an Education Benefits Form:
● School program fees are waived.
● After-school program fees are waived.
● Preschool programs fees are waived.
● SAT and ACT tests and college application fees are reduced.
● Access to community food banks services are available.
● Discounts on utilities and internet service are available.
● Discounts for participation in community groups like sports or YMCA programs are available.
School Benefits to Submitting an Education Benefits Form:
● Schools receive more federal dollars in their budgets to support students.
● Schools receive additional dollars in grants targeting school programs.
● Title I Schools receive additional funding dollars for classroom support.
● District Technology Services receives additional e-rate funding dollars for classroom support.
● St. Vrain Valley Schools qualifies to receive more money per student from the state and federal
government, which they can pass on to school classrooms.
● Middle schools with high return rates may also help their feeder elementary schools qualify for free
afterschool snacks, dinners, and on-site summer meals.
● Schools may become eligible for money to fund after-school programs.
● Schools may become eligible for money to fund preschool programs.
A new form must be completed each school year, available after July 1st of each year. Families are responsible for any student fees that accrue anytime between benefit status lapses.
Applying online is the fastest way to get your form processed to ensure no lapse in coverage happens. Applying online also reduces the chance for errors and the need to send applications back to families to correct.
I don’t qualify for free or reduced benefits, do I need to do anything?
If you do not believe you qualify for free or reduced benefits, you are not required to complete an application. We encourage all families to complete the form for assessment of the socio-economic needs of each school community, and for assessment of maximizing Federal funding for school meals and other programs.
Why should I complete an application?
It is important for households to still provide income information when requested. While meals will be provided at no cost to all students in participating schools, SVVSD must continue to gather this information to receive full access to state and federal funding. Additional funds go directly to schools to help cover the cost of meals, after-school activities and other nutritional programs for students. Plus, qualifying households may be eligible for Summer EBT benefits and to receive discounted school fees, class materials, bus passes, utilities support, and more.
Eligibility Determination
The following contains more information on eligibility determination for free and reduced-price meals. Please note that, while the following may reference eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals, Breakfast and Lunch will be provided free to all students in the 2024-2025 school year regardless of household income.
SVVSD announced its policy for determining eligibility of students who meet federal free and reduced-price school meal guidelines served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, Afterschool Care Snack Program, and Child and Adult Care Food Program. Local school officials will use the following household size and income criteria for determining eligibility.
| Household Size | Free Guidelines – Annual Income | Reduced-Price Guidelines – Annual Income |
| 1 | $19,578 | $27,861 |
| 2 | $26,572 | $37,814 |
| 3 | $33,566 | $47,767 |
| 4 | $40,560 | $57,720 |
| 5 | $47,554 | $67,673 |
| 6 | $54,548 | $77,626 |
| 7 | $61,542 | $87,579 |
| 8 | $68,536 | $97,532 |
| For each additional person: | $6,994 | $9,953 |
Children from families whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
The school meals that SVVSD serves follow U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for healthy school meals.
Applications for free and reduced-price school meals, instructions and an informational letter to households are available at 2929 Clover Basin Dr, Longmont or online. Only one application is required for all students in the household. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for determining eligibility and verifying data.
Applications from households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits or Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF/Colorado Works, Basic Cash Assistance or State Diversion) benefits need to provide the respective case number and the signature of an adult household member. Eligibility for free school meals is extended to all students in the household when the application provides a case number for any household member.
Households that qualify based upon income must provide the names of all household members related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives or friends), the amount of gross income each household member receives, the frequency and source of pay, the signature of an adult household member and the last four digits of that adult household member’s Social Security number—or check the box if the adult household member does not have a social security number. SVVSD or program officials may verify the information on the application at any time during the school year.
Households with students who are eligible under the Head Start, homeless, migrant, or runaway programs should contact Kari Jacobs for assistance in receiving meal benefits. To complete an application, the household must mark the relevant box to indicate their appropriate eligibility and the signature of an adult household member is required.
Foster students who are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free school meals. Any foster child in the household is eligible for free school meals regardless of income. If a household has only foster students in the home and wishes to apply for free school meals, the application should be completed using the instructions for households with foster children only. If a household has foster and non-foster children living with them and wishes to apply for free school meals, the application should be completed using the instructions for households with foster and non-foster children residing in the home. Including foster children as household members may help other children in the household qualify for meal benefits. If the foster family is not eligible to receive meal benefits, it does not prevent a foster child from receiving free school meals.
An application cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information as indicated on the application and instructions.
When determined by [Insert school district name], that members of a household are receiving assistance from SNAP, TANF, Medicaid or FDPIR, households will be notified of their student’s eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals. If the household receives such notice, no application is required for free or reduced-price school meal benefits. If any students in the household were not listed on the eligibility notice or not listed on the application, the household should contact SVVSD to have benefits extended to all students in the household.
When determined by SVVSD, that an individual child is categorized as homeless, migrant, or runaway or is enrolled in an eligible Head Start program, households will be notified of the child’s eligibility for free school meals. For any students not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact SVVSD about eligibility under one of these programs or should submit an application for other students.
SVVSD will notify households of their student’s eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals. The eligibility is valid for the current school year and a carryover period of up to 30 operating days into the next school year. When the carryover period ends, unless the household is notified that their student(s) are directly certified or the household submits an application that is approved, SVVSD will not send a reminder or a notice of expired eligibility and the student must pay full price for school meals. Households notified of their student’s eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals must contact SVVSD if they choose to decline meal benefits.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please contact your school district.
Under the provision of the free and reduced-price school meal policy, SVVSD will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with the decision, a request may be made to discuss it with the determining official. A formal appeal may be made either orally or in writing to Katie Cossette for a hearing to appeal the decision. SVVSD has a copy of the complete free and reduced-price school meal policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party. The policy contains an outline of the hearing procedure.
Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. The household may complete an application if any household member(s) have a decrease in income, become unemployed, have an increase in family size, become eligible for SNAP, TANF or FDPIR benefits or become categorically eligible.
If you are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals you may be eligible for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid or FDPIR.
For more information about the above assistance programs please visit: https://coloradopeak.secure.force.com.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
- mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - email:
[email protected]
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.