Free & Reduced Price Meal Benefits

  • Any student enrolled in a School District of Manatee County public school may apply for free and reduced price meal benefits by visiting SchoolCafé.

     

    • Breakfast is FREE for all students at all schools.
    • Families must apply every year for Meal Benefits.
    • Only one household application needs to be completed per family, including foster children.
    • Foster children are categorically eligible for free meals. They should be listed on the household application and check the FOSTER box.  Make sure to notify the registrar at the enrolled school.
    • Applications can be submitted at any time during the school year.
    • Visit SchoolCafé to apply online.
    • Paper applications in English and Spanish are also available at the main office of each school. If another translation is needed, contact the Food and Nutrition Services Department. 
    • After an application is processed, Food and Nutrition Services will email or mail a letter notifying the parent/guardian of the student’s meal benefit status.
    • An application is not required if your child attends a Community Eligibility Program (CEP) school. They automatically receive FREE breakfast and lunch every day.

  • Questions? (941)739-5700

Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Schools

  • The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. CEP allows the nation’s highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications.  

    These are the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Schools in Manatee County:

    • Abel Elementary
    • Ballard Elementary
    • Bashaw Elementary
    • Bayshore Elementary
    • Bayshore High
    • Blackburn Elementary
    • Daughtrey Elementary
    • Horizons Academy
    • Just for Girls Academy
    • Kinnan Elementary
    • Lee Middle
    • Lincoln Memorial Middle
    • Manatee Elementary
    • Manatee School for the Arts and Science
    • Moody Elementary
    • Myakka Elementary
    • Oasis Middle
    • Oneco Elementary
    • Palm View K-8
    • Palmetto Elementary
    • Prine Elementary
    • Rogers Garden Elementary
    • Samoset Elementary
    • Sea Breeze Elementary
    • Southeast High
    • Sugg Middle
    • Tillman Elementary
    • Visible Men Academy (VMA)

    Additional information about CEP can be found here.