Free student meal update and steps to receive free and discounted services for qualifying families

The family income survey and consent to share process is different this year. Please review the following message as it affects many families. 

First, the great news is that ALL schools now offer a daily free breakfast and free lunch for students this school year! Second meals are available for purchase. To assist families, we have two important steps we ask you to complete: 

STEP 1: Families are encouraged to complete the Child Nutrition Benefit Application (formerly called the Family Income Survey) as it helps the district determine family needs and qualify for funding for important learning assistance programs, meals, and grants that support students. It is also used to determine family eligibility for SunBucks (summer EBT meals). Please complete the application by September 27. Translations for most widely spoken languages in our district are available. If your family is already “directly certified” by the state, meaning you receive state benefits such as ECEAP, Basic Food, Medicaid, etc., you can skip to the Consent to Share form.

STEP 2: Many students qualify for free or reduced fees based on their family income, but we need family permission to share that information with the appropriate staff who oversee those programs (example: ASB cards, PSAT and Advanced Placement tests, uniforms, etc.). If you would like to grant permission for your eligibility to be shared ONLY with the staff who oversee relevant programs for your student to receive free or discounted services, please complete the Consent to Share Form in the Family Access Portal. Detailed instructions are below. 

Thank you for helping us ensure students who need the benefits receive them. 
 
Consent to Share form instructions
1. Log into the Skyward Family Access portal. Never logged in before? Use the “forgot password” link and enter the email address on file with your student’s school. You should receive an email with your login information.

Make sure you are on the Family Access portal. If you recently registered online, you may need to switch from the New Student Enrollment portal to the Family Access portal by using the drop-down arrow next to the house icon. 

Click on the tile named “Consent to Share Eligibility Form.”
Note: Once complete, please repeat this process for EVERY student in your family.


2. After clicking the tile, click “Start” to begin the form.


3. Review the information on the form and how it will be used. 
Under the Consent to Share Child Nutrition Program Eligibility Information area of the form: 

• Enter the date  
• Select from the drop-down to either say “Yes” or “No” to the consent to share
• If selecting “Yes,” pick the MSD Fee Waiver/Reductions program from the drop-down menu

At the bottom, be sure to click “I agree” to enter your electronic signature.
Click “Complete & Review” at the top to go to the final step.


4. Review the form field entries from the previous step. If you need to make a change, click the “Edit” icon. Otherwise, go to the bottom of the step and click the “I confirm” box. Click the “Submit Form” button at the top.


Repeat these steps for each child attached to your family account. If you do not see all your children under the same portal login, please contact your school for a correction to connect your students to your family. If you prefer to complete a paper form, or need a translation that is not provided, you can contact your school office or reference the Nutrition Services website.