FOOD SERVICE
Welcome Back to the 25-26 School Year
(Click the link for back-to-school Food Service Program Information)
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued numerous waivers and additional funding for School Nutrition Programs (SNP) – allowing many students to eat free school meals without collecting applications. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 was signed into law (Public Law 117-103) on March 15, 2022. This law did not extend any special authority to USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). This means that, unless Congress takes special action:
· There will be no extension of universal free meals in SY 2025-2026
· There will be no extra funding for School Nutrition Programs in SY 2025-2026
With this return to pre-COVID practices, the Jones County School District will not offer universal free meals to students in SY 2025-2026. To claim free or reduced-price meals, the District must collect student eligibility through direct certification or an approved household application.
Most students will not have free or reduced-price benefits from SY 2024-2025 to carry them into the first 30 days of SY 2025-2026. Only students with an approved free or reduced-price application on file in SY 2024-2025 will receive carryover benefits. Most students will start the year paying for lunch until they are either directly certified for free meals or the household submits a free and reduced-price application that the school approves.
The Jones County School District is communicating this now to inform families that universal free meals will not be available in SY 2025-2026.
Applications for the current school year (2025-2026) are available. Please contact any attendance center for an application. If you have any questions, please contact Donna Convey, Business Manager at (605) 669-2258 or by email at donna.convey@k12.sd.us