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Department of Food and Nutrition Services > Free And Reduced-Price Meals

FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Schools

2025–2026 School Year

60 MCPS Schools will operate under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).  Students enrolled at these CEP schools may receive breakfast and lunch at no cost regardless of household income.  A list of the participating schools can be found here.

Free And Reduced-price Meals

2025–2026 Household FARM Applications

All meals are free for students who qualify for Free And Reduced-price Meals; students who are approved for reduced-price meals eat for free!

The Department of Food and Nutrition Services (DFNS) encourages families with students enrolled at non-CEP schools to complete a FARM application online.  Applications for the 2025–2026 school year will be available July 30, 2025.

              Apply Online             (translations available)            

Click here for an English video tutorial on how to complete the FARM application.  
Vea aquí un vídeo paso a paso en español sobre cómo completar la solicitud de FARM.

Click here for additional "How To" PowerPoint (in English & Español) made by MCPS Family Engagement Specialist, Alejandra Jarquin. 

  • Households must apply for FARMS every school year.  Student meal benefit eligibility from the prior school year carries over for the first 30 operating days OR until a new eligibility is determined.  If a new eligibility is not determined by the 30th school day, students default to a paid status and will be charged for meals.
  • Households may apply for meal benefits at any time during the school year.
  • Students qualify for free meals when total household income is the same or less than the amounts on the Income Chart below.
  • Use ONE application for ALL students in the household—including Pre-K, kindergarten, and foster—even if they attend different schools.  **If one student in household attends a CEP school, a FARM application must still be submitted for students enrolled in non-CEP schools. Include ALL student names on the application (see list of CEP schools above).
  • Paper applications are available in each school's front office.  Households who apply online should not submit a paper application.
  • If applying for a child who is homeless, a migrant, or a runaway, please complete and submit MCPS Form 335-77 Homeless Status, call the child's school, or contact the MCPS Homeless liaison at 240-740-4511.
  • Each student will be notified of meal benefit status (including both those approved, and those who do not qualify) by mail.  Please keep this important document for your records and use throughout the school year.
  • Meal Eligibility is confidential information. Federal regulations governing school meal programs require that a student's eligibility for FARMS are used only to provide meal benefits.
  • Verification of FARM applications is conducted annually each October. A random selection of households approved for FARMS will be required to verify the information listed on the application. Households selected will be notified, including details for how to comply with the verification process.
  • Households that are unable to apply online should contact their school or the Department of Food and Nutrition Services at 240-740-7400.

Income Guidelines 2025-2026

Household Size Annually Monthly Weekly
1 $28,953 $2,413 $557
2 $39,128 $3,261 $753
3 $49,303 $4,109 $949
4 $59,478 $4,957 $1,144
5 $69,653 $5,805 $1,340
6 $79,828 $6,653 $1,536
7 $90,003 $7,501 $1,731
8 $100,178 $8,349 $1,927
for each additional family member, add +$10,175 +$848 +$196

 

Direct Certification for Free Meals

Students will continue to automatically qualify for free meals without submission of a FARM application if:

  • They are in a household that participates in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Medicaid-Free; or, 
  • They are identified as in the Head Start program, foster, migrant, runaway, or homeless.

Students in households participating in Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

 

Additional Benefits of FARM Applications

Participation in the Free And Reduced-price Meal (FARM) program may qualify students for the following opportunities:

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can I contact to discuss Free And Reduced-price Meals?

Call the Department of Food and Nutrition Services at 240-740-7400 or contact us via email at DFNSOffice@mcpsmd.org.

I would like to apply for free meals, but am concerned that my child may get embarrassed if the teachers or other students learn that we need assistance. How can this be avoided?

A student's meal eligibility status is always confidential. Eligibility is only disclosed to parents, guardians, and school system staff necessary for administering the school meal programs. Meal service is designed to maintain confidentiality by using student ID numbers so that there is no way for other students or adults to know if a student is receiving a free meal. 

My child was eligible for free meals last school year. Do I need to apply again?

YES!  Households must apply every school year.

Student meal benefit eligibility from the prior school year carries over for the first 30 scheduled school days OR until a new application is processed.  If a new eligibility is not determined by the 30th school day, students default to a paid status and will be charged for meals. 

How do I apply?

Apply online for the fastest application processing.

Paper applications are available at all MCPS schools. 

Can I submit just one application for all my children?

Yes.  Use ONE application for ALL students in the household—including Pre-K, kindergarten, and foster—even if they attend different MCPS schools.

Why was my child’s application determined not eligible for the program?

Eligibility is based on the number of household members and gross income.  Households with income exceeding annual limits are not eligible for free or reduced-price meals.  If you think there has been a mistake, contact the Department of Food and Nutrition Services.

My family situation has changed; can I reapply to the program?

Yes! Families may reapply for meal benefits at any time during the school year.

I lost my copy of the eligibility notice (Action-Taken Notice). How do I get a copy?

Parents/guardians are asked to retain the Action-Taken Notice (ATN) for use throughout the school year. Requests for duplicate ATNs must be made to the Department of Food and Nutrition Services office by calling 240-740-7400. Due to the confidential meal benefit information included, ATNs may not be faxed or emailed. Duplicate copies will be mailed to the student's address on file.