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THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

Office of P-20 Education Policy
Child Nutrition Program Administration
89 Washington Avenue, Room 375 EBA, Albany, NY 12234
Phone: (518) 473-8781 Fax: (518) 473-0018
To: 
School Food Service Directors/Managers
From: 
Child Nutrition Program Administration
Date: 
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Subject: 
2023-2024 SY Income Eligibility Guidelines, Application, and Related Information

This memorandum announces the income eligibility guidelines for the 2023-2024 school year and provides each School Food Authority (SFA) with the forms and guidance needed to process applications for free and reduced-price meals and/or milk. This memorandum supersedes the previously issued New York State Education Department (NYSED) Policy Booklet.

As a reminder, students in New York State that are approved for reduced-price meals will receive breakfast and lunch meals and snacks served through the Afterschool Snack Program at no charge. Click here for more information: Increase in State Reimbursement for Reduced Price Meals.

USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals

The USDA Eligibility Manual for School Meals provides comprehensive information on the Federal requirements, policies, and procedures for establishing eligibility in the Child Nutrition Programs. This is intended to help School Food Authorities (SFAs) accurately determine, certify, and verify children’s eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals and free milk.

Income Eligibility Guidelines

SFAs must use the 2023-2024 School Year income eligibility guidelines to approve free and reduced-price income applications for school meals. These guidelines are family-size income levels prescribed annually by the Secretary of Agriculture for determining eligibility for free and reduced-price meals and free milk.

NYSED Eligibility Prototype Documents

Click here for a PDF printer-friendly version of all documents.

Free and Reduced Price Income Application and Application Fact Sheet

English Word PDF

Other Language Applications

Public Announcement

Word PDF

Parent Letter

Word PDF

Special Milk Program Letter

Word PDF

Notification Letter for School Meals

Word PDF

Notification Letter for Directly Certified Students

Word PDF

Meal Services to Children with Disabilities

Word PDF

Consent to Release Eligibility Information

Word PDF

Language Translations

SFAs must take reasonable steps to ensure meaningful access to their programs and activities by persons with limited English proficiency. USDA features foreign language translations of the Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals as a template to assist SFAs in serving households where English is not spoken as a primary language.

In addition to the application form, each USDA translated packet also includes application instructions and a parent letter/FAQ. USDA also provides a packet of communications documents to be used by SFAs for information sharing requests, income verification, and benefit issuance notices to households.

The translated documents can be found here: Translated Applications | Food and Nutrition Service (usda.gov).

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Click here for Nondiscrimination Statement translations.

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