Educational Benefits

Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. To apply, complete the Application for Educational Benefits following the instructions below. A new application must be submitted each year. At public schools, your application also helps the school qualify for education funds and discounts.

State funds help to pay for reduced-price school meals, so all students who are approved for either free or reduced-price school meals will receive school meals at no charge. State funds also help to pay for breakfasts for kindergarten students, so all participating kindergarten students receive breakfasts at no charge.

Please provide the information requested about children’s racial identity and ethnicity, which helps to ensure we are fully serving our community. This information is not required for approval of school meal benefits.

How to Apply for Educational Benefits:

Parent Portal	Online Application	Paper Application
-Log-in to your Parent Portal -Go to "More" in the menu -Select Meal Benefits -Complete the Meal Benefits Application -Once processed, you will receive an approval or denial letter in the mail.	- Complete the Electronic Meal Benefit Application - Wait for your verification email and click the link to verify your email address. -Once we receive your application you will get an "approved" email. This is saying we have approved your electronic form to go into processing, not that your application has been approved for free and reduced lunch. -Once processed, you will receive an approval or denial letter in the mail.	-Print the Application for Educational Benefits, or Contact the Food Service Department to receive a paper application. -Return your completed application to: Maple River Schools Attn: Heather Ehlke PO Box 515 Mapleton MN 56065 -Once processed, you will receive an approval or denial letter in the mail.

Parent Portal

Online Application

Paper Application

-Log-in to your Parent Portal

-Go to "More" in the menu

-Select Meal Benefits

-Complete the Meal Benefits Application

-Once processed, you will receive an approval or denial letter in the mail.

- Complete the Electronic Meal Benefit Application

- Wait for your verification email and click the link to verify your email address.

-Once we receive your application you will get an "approved" email. This is saying we have approved your electronic form to go into processing, not that your application has been approved for free and reduced lunch.

-Once processed, you will receive an approval or denial letter in the mail.

-Print the Application for Educational Benefits, or Contact the Food Service Department to receive a paper application.

-Return your completed application to:

Maple River Schools
Attn: Heather Ehlke
PO Box 515
Mapleton MN 56065

-Once processed, you will receive an approval or denial letter in the mail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can get free school meals?

Children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and foster, homeless, migrant and runaway children can get free school meals without reporting household income. Alternatively, children can get free school meals if their household income is within the maximum income shown for their household size on the application instructions.

To apply for free school meals, please see above.

I get WIC or Medical Assistance. Can my children get free school meals?

I get WIC or Medical Assistance. Can my children get free school meals? Children in households participating in WIC or Medical Assistance do not automatically qualify for free meals. Children may be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals depending on other household financial information. Please fill out the application above.

Who should I include as household members?

Include yourself and all other people living in the household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends).

May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?

Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens for your children to qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.

What if my income is not always the same?

List the amount that you normally get. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get overtime only sometimes. For seasonal work, write in the total annual income.

Will the income information or case number I give be checked?

It may be. We may also ask you to send written proof.

How will the information be kept?

Information you provide on the form, and your child’s approval for meal benefits will be protected as private data. For more information, see the back page of the application above.

If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later?

Yes. Please complete an application at any time if your income goes down, your household size goes up, or you start getting SNAP, MFIP or FDPIR benefits.