Beginning in the school year 2025-2026, New York State passed a law for Universal Free School Meals, meaning that all School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the federal school lunch and/or breakfast programs are required to provide reimbursable school meals at no cost to all students. While that’s great news, families will be less incentivized to complete the free and reduced school meal application, which can impact other funding a school is able to obtain. This can include Title I funds and other grant funding. But there are also monetary benefits for the families such as discounts for school music instruments rentals, textbook fees, athletic fees, technology fees, and fee waivers for college applications and admissions tests such as the SATs and ACTs.
Here are some strategies to encourage families to complete the application.
TEAMWORK:
- School nutrition operators should not be the only department trying to get families to complete the forms. Have the school nutrition operators work with district leaders to promote the benefits of completing the application.
- Guidance counselors and social workers are often on the front line and can help identify needs and work with families.
Team up with community organizations to ask for their help with outreach to families. - Provide anyone who is assisting with outreach with resources, like a phone script and/or answers to FAQs about the form.
Working with families to complete the form, whether it is online or paper, can make a difference.
CLARIFY BENEFITS:
- Explain the benefits a family can receive by completing the form help as well as highlighting that the benefits are available regardless of citizenship status.
- Send a letter to families from superintendents/principals explaining how income forms impact school funding.
COMMUNICATION:
- Some families may be reluctant to complete the application as it can be unclear who is reviewing the form. Include a brief cover letter with the form/application explaining what families need to know about submitting the form and why it is important.
- Provide a list of frequently asked questions (FAQ) with answers to commonly asked questions.
- Utilize school events to offer hands-on assistance with the form at back-to-school nights and other events.
- Send multiple reminders about completing the form through multiple channels, such as robo-calls, parent newsletters, emails, text messages, social media.
- Bundle the form in the back-to-school packet of paperwork that families are required to complete.
Kenneth R. Cerini, CPA, CFP, FABFA
Managing Partner
Ken is the Managing Partner of Cerini & Associates, LLP and is the executive responsible for the administration of our not-for-profit and educational provider practice groups. In addition to his extensive audit experience, Ken has been directly involved in providing consulting services for nonprofits and educational facilities of all sizes throughout New York State in such areas as cost reporting, financial analysis, Medicaid compliance, government audit representation, rate maximization, board training, budgeting and forecasting, and more.
