All Aldine ISD Students to Eat Free in 2022-2023 School Year!

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A provision from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide the funding needed to allow all enrolled Aldine ISD students to eat breakfast and lunch at no charge during the 2022-2023 school year.

The money comes from the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The CEP hails from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which allows qualifying schools and districts in low-income areas to serve meals for free. To qualify for the CEP, 40 percent or more of the student body must be eligible for free school meals through other poverty programs. If that’s the case, the entire school district becomes eligible for free breakfast and lunches.

“Aldine began offering free meals during the pandemic,” said Susan D’Amico, executive director of child nutrition services. “We’re pleased that this program allows us to continue offering all students access to nutritious food so they can come to class well-nourished and ready to learn.”

Aldine ISD strongly encourages those families that would have qualified for free meals under the old program to continue to complete the annual income survey form. These surveys will be part of the registration process for new families and the Annual Update that families of returning students must complete before the start of the new school year.

“The annual income survey is extremely important and helps fund many different programs at Aldine ISD,” said D’Amico. “Data from this survey can increase technology funding and offer learning assistance programs to students in need.” The income survey also gives families access to internet discounts, college application fee waivers, and various testing fee waivers.

Families that utilized the meal program in Aldine ISD before the pandemic may have dollars remaining on their student accounts. To check the status of student accounts, families should contact the cafeteria office of their child’s school or log into SchoolCafe.com to see their child’s account. Families with a credit balance can ask for a refund or may transfer the remaining funds to another student account. These funds may be used to purchase a la carte items such as chips or ice cream.

Visit aldineisd.org for more information about the district’s Child Nutrition Services. Families can also contact Child Nutrition Services through the district’s two-way communication platform, Let’s Talk (click here).