Education
BY ELLE BENT & HALEY MCLEOD
Some Austin ISD students to receive free meals regardless of eligibility
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Families are encouraged to contact their school with changes in household member employment or if the household size increases, which may make children eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the current income eligibility requirements. During the summer break, over 30 campuses in AISD also provided free meals to children under age 18 and students with disabilities up to age 21 in need of food. Children did not have to be enrolled in AISD to receive meals, administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture. “Austin children need good nutrition year-round so they can learn, grow and succeed in life,” said Ryan Mikolaycik, AISD executive director of food service and warehouse operations.
Free breakfast and lunch is offered to Austin ISD students at 77 participating campuses during the 2024-25 school year. The meals are offered through the Community Eligibility Provision program, a federally funded meal service that provides specific schools with the ability to serve free meals to all students with no application required. Students attending schools not eligible for the program and in need of free or reduced-cost meals, can get receive them if: • Receiving state-funded benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families • Enrolled in foster care or are homeless • Approved by AISD’s application for free or reduced-cost meals.
AISD officials work with local agencies to identify children eligible for free meals and will notify these families. Any family that does not receive a letter and feels they should may contact AISD Food Service at 512-414-0251.
In AISD, 37% of students are eligible for free lunch.
1 in every 4 children in Central Texas faces food insecurity
SOURCE: CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK, TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY/ COMMUNITY IMPACT
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