Free & Reduced Meals Applications Information
Hello FNSBSD Families, Staff, and Community Members, If your student qualified for free or reduced-price meals last school year and was enrolled on the last day of school, they’ll receive a 30-day grace period at the start of the new school year.
We strongly encourage families to apply early in July to avoid any interruptions in meal benefits when school begins.
How to Apply
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Online - Quick, Secure & Easy!
Apply quickly and securely through SchoolCafe.com
👉 Parent Guide for Applying through SchoolCafe
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Paper Application:
👉Emailed to: foodservice@k12northstar.org
Download and print the 2025–2026 Free & Reduced Price Meals Application. Completed forms can be:
👉Dropped off at: Your school kitchen manager or Nutrition Services, 1305 Charles Street
📌 Please note: Faxed applications are not accepted.
Need Help Completing a Paper Application?
Download the Parent Letter PDF for step-by-step instructions on how to complete the paper application. This letter also includes answers to frequently asked questions about the process.
👉 Download the Parent Letter (PDF)
Unsure What Counts as Income?
Check out our Military Income LES Codes Guide for help identifying what income to report.
Free & Reduced Meal Application FAQ
- 1. Can I apply online?
- 2. Who can get free or reduced price meals?
- 3. Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
- 4. Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children are already approved for free meals?
- 5. My child’s application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out another one?
- 6. I get WIC and/or Denali Kid Care. Can my child(ren) get free meals?
- 7. Will the information I give be checked?
- 8. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later?
- 9. What if I disagree with the determination of my application?
- 10. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
- 11. What if my income is not always the same?
- 12. What if some household members have no income to report?
- 13. We are in the military, how do I report our income?
- 14. My spouse is deployed to a combat zone. Is the combat pay counted as income?
- 15. What if there isn’t enough space on the application for my family?
- 16. My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for?
1. Can I apply online?
2. Who can get free or reduced price meals?
3. Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
4. Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children are already approved for free meals?
5. My child’s application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out another one?
6. I get WIC and/or Denali Kid Care. Can my child(ren) get free meals?
7. Will the information I give be checked?
8. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later?
9. What if I disagree with the determination of my application?
10. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
11. What if my income is not always the same?
12. What if some household members have no income to report?
13. We are in the military, how do I report our income?
14. My spouse is deployed to a combat zone. Is the combat pay counted as income?
15. What if there isn’t enough space on the application for my family?
16. My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for?
25-26 SY Federal Eligibility Guideline
Free & Reduced Eligibility Report
Nutrition Services frequently receives requests for statistical data on schools' free and reduced percentages. The State of Alaska Child Nutrition Program now has these statistics available for all Alaska school districts and individual sites. The official count is taken in October of each school year. The official meal counts report for each school year will be available when posted by the state after the official count date in October of each year.
You can access the data at http://www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/cnp/NSLP.html