Athens City School District announced July 1, 2024, its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program. Local school officials have adopted the following household size and income criteria for determining eligibility: Children need healthy meals to learn. Athens City School District offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs at no cost; lunch costs $2.75. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price is no charge for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch. Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process.

WHO CAN GET FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS?— All children in households receiving benefits from Alabama SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations or Alabama TANF, are eligible for free meals.

— All children in the households receiving benefits from Medicaid are eligible for free or reduced meals.

— Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.

— Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.

— Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.

— Children who are directly certified are eligible to receive free meals.

— When known to Athens City School District, households will be notified of their children’s eligibility for free meals based on their participation (or a household member’s participation) in the: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR); or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), if the State program meets Federal standards.

— When known to Athens City School District, households will be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals based on the individual child’s designation as Other Source Categorically Eligible, as defined by law. Children are determined Other Source Categorically Eligible if they are: momeless, migrant, runaway, foster child, or enrolled in Head Start or an eligible pre-kindergarten programs.