The start of the new school year is right around the corner and the School District of Manatee County’s Food & Nutrition Services would like to remind parents and guardians to apply for meal benefits this year. Breakfast will continue to be free for all students. Full pay lunch prices are $3.50 for elementary students and $3.75 for secondary students.

We encourage families to apply for Free or Reduced Price Meal Benefits at schoolcafe.com/manateecountyschools or on the SchoolCafé app. Paper applications are also available at the front office in each school. Only one application is needed per household.

 The School District of Manatee County Food & Nutrition Services will continue its policy to operate the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2026-2027 school year. Schools qualifying to operate CEP serve breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals. This approach reduces burdens for both families and school administrators and helps ensure that students receive nutritious meals. All students will be served lunch and breakfast at no charge at the following sites:

• 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 Arts & Sciences

• Moody Elementary

• Myakka Elementary

• Oasis Middle

• Oneco Elementary

• Palm View Elementary

• Palmetto Elementary

• Prine Elementary

• Rogers Garden Elementary

• Samoset Elementary

• Sea Breeze Elementary

• Southeast High

• Sugg Middle

• Tillman Elementary

• Visible Men Academy

For additional information please contact: The School District of Manatee County School, Attention: Regina Thoma, Director, Food & Nutrition Services 1812 27th St. E. Bradenton 34208 (941) 739-5700, thomar@manateeschools.net

The Community Eligibility Program (CEP) is part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Programs. Funding for this program comes from meal reimbursements received from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The School District of Manatee County General Funds are not used for this program.

Meal Benefits Information

Household size and income criteria will be used to determine eligibility.  An application cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information. Once approved, meal benefits are good for an entire year. You need not notify the organization of changes in income and household size.

Application forms are being sent to all homes with a letter to parents or guardians.  To apply for Free or Reduced-Price Meals, households must complete the application and return it to the school.  Additional copies are available at the front office in each school.  The information provided on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

Households that receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) are required to list on the application only the child’s name, SNAP/TANF case number, and signature of adult household member. 

Foster children will receive free benefits regardless of the child’s personal income or the income of the household.

Households with children who are considered migrants, homeless, or runaway should contact the district liaison at the Professional Support Center at 941-751-6550.

For the purpose of determining household size, deployed service members are considered a part of the household. Families should include the names of the deployed service members on their application.  Report only that portion of the deployed service member’s income made available to them or on their behalf to the family. Additionally, a housing allowance that is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative is not to be included as income.

All other households must provide the following information listed on the application:

• Total household income listed by gross amount received, type of income (e.g., wages, child support, etc.) and how often the income is received by each household member;   

• Names of all household members – check the “no income” box if applicable; if household member is a child, list school name for each;

• Signature of an adult household member certifying the information provided is correct; and

• Social security number of the adult signing the application or check the box for no social security number.

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size changes, a new application can be submitted.

Under the provisions of the Free and Reduced-Price meal policy the Business & Technology Supervisor will review applications and determine eligibility.  If a parent or guardian is dissatisfied with the ruling of the official, he or she may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis.  If the parent wishes to make a formal appeal, he or she may make a request either orally or in writing to      P O Box 9069, Bradenton, FL 34206 or 941-708-8770.

For Income Eligibility Guidelines visit www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/09/2026-06842/child-nutrition-programs-income-eligibility-guidelines#page-17934

FOR FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS

Effective from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027

Remember: The total income before taxes, social security, health benefits, union dues, or other deductions must be reported.

What’s for breakfast and Lunch? With the SchoolCafé app you will find lots of great information such as monthly menus for your school and ingredients and allergen information.  Use SchoolCafé to set up student accounts to view purchases and make payments. Download the FREE mobile app for school menus. SchoolCafé is available for download through Google Play or the AppStore. You can also access the menus at schoolcafe.com/manateecountyschools.

About Manatee County Schools Food & Nutrition Services: As a U.S. Department of Agriculture supported program the mission of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) is to provide quality nutritious meals for student to learn and succeed. FNS serves over five million student lunches and breakfasts each year and provides service to over 80% of the student population. For more information contact Food and Nutrition Service (941) 739-5700. www.manateeschools.net/fns

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or fax:(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.