Getting Started
WORCESTER COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
2025-2026 School Year
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Children need healthy meals to learn. Worcester County Public Schools offer healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.40, lunch costs $2.45 (PreK-8) and $2.85 (9-12). Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. (Beginning in school year 2023, children in the reduced-price category will not be charged the cost of a reduced-price meal.) Below are common questions and answers to assist you with the application process
If you have received a NOTICE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE MEALS, do NOT complete the application, but let the school know if any children in your household are NOT listed on the NOTICE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE MEALS letter you received or if you have questions, call 410-632-5027.
1. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD? No. Use one Meal Benefit Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to: WCPS, 6270 Worcester Hwy., Newark, MD 21841. Call: 410-632-5027.
2. WHO CAN GET FREE MEALS? All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), foster children, children certified as homeless, runaway, migrant, Head Start, Early Head Start, Even Start, or children who have been Medicaid matched through the Maryland Direct Certification System will receive free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can get free meals if your household’s gross income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Call Tina Lank at 410-632-5027.
3. I COMPLETED AN APPLICATION LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE? Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year.
4. I GET WIC. CAN MY CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please send in an application.
5. WILL THE INFORMATION I GIVE BE CHECKED? Yes and we may also ask you to send written proof.
6. IF I DON’T QUALIFY NOW, MAY I APPLY LATER? Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.
7. WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE SCHOOL’S DECISION ABOUT MY APPLICATION? You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Dr. Annette Wallace, Superintendent of Schools, 6270 Worcester Hwy., Newark, MD 21841. Email: AEWallace@WorcesterK12.org. Phone: 410-632-5000.
8. MAY I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSEHOLD IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN? Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
9. WHO SHOULD I INCLUDE AS MEMBERS OF MY HOUSEHOLD? You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, foster children, or friends) who share income and expenses. You must include yourself and all children living with you. If you live with other people who are economically independent (for example, people who you do not support, who do not share income with you or your children, and who pay a pro-rated share of expenses), do not include them.
10. WHAT IF MY INCOME IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.
11. WE ARE IN THE MILITARY. DO WE REPORT OUR INCOME DIFFERENTLY? Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.
12. MY FAMILY NEEDS MORE HELP. ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS WE MIGHT APPLY FOR? To find out how to apply for SNAP, TCA, and medical assistance programs or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 1-800-332-6347.
If you have other questions or need help, call 410-632-5027.
Sincerely,
Food and Nutrition Services
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING 2025-2026
Meal Benefit Application for Free and Reduced-Price School Meals
Complete the online form using the instructions below. If you need help, call 410-632-5027.
- List the first and last name of everyone in your household, whether they receive income or not. Your household includes all those living as one economic unit. Include yourself, all children living with you, including foster children and any other person living in your household, related or not. List each type of income received last month and how often it is received. You must indicate how much in whole dollars, and how often received (weekly, bi-weekly, twice a month, monthly). If a household member has no income—select No Income.
- Report all income as gross income. Gross income is the amount earned before taxes and other deductions. This is not the same as take-home pay. Gross income includes unemployment benefits, Worker’s Compensation, Supplemental Security Income and Veteran’s Benefits, Social Security, private pensions or disability, strike benefits, income from trusts or estates, annuities, investment income, earned interest, rental income and regular cash payments from outside household. For self-owned business, farm, or rental income, report income as net income.
- If you are in the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Do not include combat pay.
- Indicate the total number of household members in the space provided.
- The form must have the last four digits of the Social Security Number of the primary wage earner or adult who signs unless the adult does not have a Social Security Number. If the adult does not have a Social Security Number, check the box. The last four digits of the Social Security Number are not needed if you listed a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) case number, a Temporary Cash Assistance case number, or if you are only applying for foster children.
SIGNATURE - ALL HOUSEHOLDS COMPLETE All forms must have the signature of an adult household member.
RACIAL/ETHNIC IDENTITY You are not required to answer this question to get meal benefits. This information will help ensure that everyone is treated fairly.
SHARING INFORMATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS
Check the boxes to indicate your preference for sharing or not sharing application information with the programs indicated. Your decision will not change whether your children get free or reduced-price meals.
Your child(ren) may be eligible for free meals or reduced price meals if your household income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines chart shown below.
Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines
Effective July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026
HouseholdSize Year Month Week
├──────────────────────────────────┤
│ 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 │ $10,175 │ $848 │ $196 │
additional
family member add:
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires that we use information from this application to see who qualifies for free or reduced price meals. We can only approve complete forms. We may share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them deliver program benefits to your household. Inspectors and law enforcement may also use your information to make sure that program rules are met. Please be sure to provide the last four numbers of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application. If the adult does not have one, ‘Check if no Social Security Number.’ Applications for a foster child do not need to list a Social Security number. Applications for children in households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) do not need to list a Social Security number. Some children qualify for free meals without an application. Please contact your school to get free meals for a foster child, and children who are homeless, migrant, or runaway.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
- mail:
- fax:
- email:
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410,
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
The Maryland State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry/national origin, color, disability, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation in matters affecting employment or in providing access to programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. For Inquiries related to Department policy, please contact:
Equity Assurance Compliance OfficeOffice of the Deputy State Superintendent for Finance and Administration
Maryland State Department of Education
200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201-2595
410-767-0426 - Voice
410-767-0431 - Fax
410-333-6442 - TTY/TDD
Begin Application Process