Free/Reduced Lunch for 2024-2025 School Year

A new application must be completed each school year to qualify for free or reduced meals. Your student's eligibility status carries over from the previous year for the first 30 school days. For the 2024-2025 school year, the carry-over date will end on September 12, 2024. We can begin accepting new Free and Reduced Applications for the 2024-2025 school year on July 1, 2024. Only one application per household should be submitted and everyone living in the house must be included in the application. Free and reduced meal applications are available online: LINQ Connect 

Applications are also available at the Madison City Schools central office, 211 Celtic Drive, Madison AL, after July 1st. Your eligibility may be checked at any time during the school year and you may be asked to provide documentation to verify your income. 

Notification
Please allow 10 working days to process your application. You will receive a notification letter from the Central Office Child Nutrition Program office of your eligibility status.
Direct Certification
If you receive a letter stating you are free DCRT for this school year, you are not required to fill out an application.
Foster Children
A foster child living in your home qualifies for free meals regardless of your income. You may include all foster children on the same application as the rest of your household.
New Students
New students will need to bring money for meals until their application is processed and approved.
Student Transfer
If a student transfers within the Madison County School System their eligibility will also transfer. A new application is not necessary.
Income Application
An income application must have a signature and the last four (4) digits of the social security number of the parent/guardian. We cannot process your application without this information.
Confidentiality: All information is confidential and will only be used for the meal program unless you request to release the information. Student computer accounts look identical to cash-paying students, so no one can tell what the status is of any student. We respect your privacy.

Additionally, we are required to ask for information about your children's race and ethnicity. This information is important and helps to make sure we are fully serving our community. Responding to the section regarding race and ethnicity is optional and does not affect your children's eligibility for Free or Reduced-price meals. This section is found on the back of our paper Free and Reduced Applications and is part of the questionnaire of our online-based application. The race and ethnicity of your children are kept confidential.