Free & Reduced Meals

-Applications can be completed on the School Café website (www.schoolcafe.com) or app. You will need to create an account if you don’t already have one. Once logged in, click on “Apply for Benefits” to begin the application.

-Paper applications are available upon request from your student’s school or by contacting the Nutrition Services office at 281-897-4550 or freeandreduced@cfisd.net. They can also be picked up at the Food Production Center: 11355 Perry Rd. Houston, TX, 77064

-Yes! The application does not require a student ID. If your application was approved for free or reduced meals and your student is being charged full price, contact our office immediately for a resolution, 281-897-4550. Always have your application number ready.

-Parents are responsible for any charges incurred before a student’s eligibility becomes active.

-In School Café, click on Eligibility Info, then click on My Applications. If the status says processing, you should contact the Free/Reduced Lunch Office: 281-897-4550.

-Application processing can take up to 10 business days.

-In School Café, click on Eligibility Info, then click on Notifications. The most recent notification letter will have the current school year listed.

-If no notifications are available and you submitted an application, please contact the Free/Reduced Lunch office (281-897-4550) and have your application number ready.

-Eligibility for the Free/Reduced Meal Program is based on household income or direct certification from SNAP, Medicaid, FDPIR, or TANF. Did you include all household members on the application? Did you report income frequency correctly? Did you complete all steps of the paper application?

-You may reapply if any mistakes were made or contact our office for assistance, 281-897-4550 or 281-897-4535

*Applications are accepted all school year. Please reapply if circumstances in the household have changed, like household income or number of household members.

*Household members (those residing in the same home as the Cy-Fair ISD student) including: children who do not attend school or who may attend another school district, relatives, college students who reside in your home permanently but are away temporarily for school.

-Is your student attending a different school from last year that is not on the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) list?

-YES: Students attending a Non-CEP campus must submit a Free and Reduced Meal Application to check eligibility with the program.

-NO: An approved Free and Reduced Meal Application is valid from the school year in which it is submitted, through the first 30 school days of the following school year. Your student’s free/reduced eligibility will expire if a new application is not submitted before the first 30 school days of the new school year.

-A new application must be submitted each school year to keep your student’s eligibility with the program up to date.

-No, but it is very important that you complete and return the Income Survey from the campus. This survey is used to determine funds and resources available for your campus.

-Balances may be paid online at School Café (www.schoolcafe.com). There is a $10 minimum for online deposits. You may also send cash or check to your student’s cafeteria.

-Payments made on School Café can take up to 24 hours to reflect on the student’s account. Please contact School Café customer care if your payment has been processed and is still not reflecting on the student account after 24 hours: 855-729-2328

-Students attending a CEP campus will receive an Income Survey to complete.

-Students attending a non-CEP campus will need to complete a Free and Reduced Lunch Application, but any CEP students in the household should be included in the application.

-A denied application does not affect a CEP student from receiving free meals. CEP is a separate entity from the Free and Reduced Lunch Program.