The Free and Reduced Online Applications feature allows non-CEP sites to collect applications online. To enable this feature, check the Enable Online Applications Website checkbox (Admin > Definitions/Setup > Community > Eligibility > Online Applications).
When the Enable Online Applications Website checkbox is checked, a Pause Online Applications as of and an Open Online Applications as of option will appear.
The Enable Online Applications Website options function as follows:
|
Options |
Rollover Status |
Results |
|
Enable Online Applications Website off |
|
Website does not load. |
|
Enable Online Applications Website on, neither option selected |
Within current year |
Website loads as normal. |
|
Enable Online Applications Website on, neither option selected |
Not rolled over into the current year (AdmsiteOptions.CurrentYear 2023, but date 7/12/2024) |
Website loads Closed image with message …not accepting applications at this time. |
|
Enable Online Applications Website on: •Pause Online Applications as of set for a future date •Open Online Applications as of set for a future date in current year |
Within current year |
Website loads as normal. |
|
Enable Online Applications Website on: •Pause Online Applications as of set for a past date •Open Online Applications as of set for a future date in current year |
Within current year |
Website loads Closed image with message …not accepting applications at this time, will re-open (Open date). |
|
Enable Online Applications Website on: •Pause Online Applications as of set for a past date •Open Online Applications as of set for a past date in current year |
Within current year |
Website loads as normal. |
|
Enable Online Applications Website on: •Pause Online Applications as of set for a past date •Open Online Applications as of set for a future date in the next year |
Within current year |
Website loads Closed image with message …not accepting applications at this time, will re-open (Open date) to begin accepting applications for the new year. |
|
Enable Online Applications Website on: •Pause Online Applications as of set for a past date •Open Online Applications as of set for a past date |
Not rolled over into the current year (AdmsiteOptions.CurrentYear 2023, but date 7/12/2024) |
Website loads Closed image with message …not accepting applications at this time. |
|
Enable Online Applications Website on: •Pause Online Applications as of not set •Open Online Applications as of set for a future date in the next year |
Within current year |
Website loads as normal. |
|
Enable Online Applications Website on: •Pause Online Applications as of not set •Open Online Applications as of set for a future date |
Not rolled over into the current year (AdmsiteOptions.CurrentYear 2023, but date 7/12/2024) |
Website loads Closed image with message …not accepting applications at this time, will re-open (Open date) to begin accepting applications for the new year. |
Online Application process:
Free & Reduced School Meals Application
The Welcome to the Online Free & Reduced School Meals Application page appears when you launch the Free & Reduced School Meals Application site. The Welcome page includes Before you begin, How am I eligible, and Getting started checklist sections. The parent/guardian can click the Income Eligibility Guidelines link in the Getting started checklist section to reference the FEDERAL ELIGIBILITY INCOME CHART for the current school year. The Income Eligibility Guidelines can also be viewed at Admin > Definitions/Setup > Community > Income Eligibility Guidelines.
After the parent/guardian has reviewed this information and clicked Start Application, they are prompted for their First Name, Last Name, and Email address. Click Next.
Your Students
The parent/guardian is prompted to enter the number of students living in their household that attend schools in the same school district. Click Next.
Fields are provided for the student’s First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, Student ID, Grad, School, and Date of birth.
Note: The Enrolled in GED/12th Grade or lower program checkbox supports students enrolled in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), such as GED or other educational programs at or under grade 12. When this checkbox is checked, the system will accept an adult birthdate.
A This child is a… section appears under the Date of birth fields. The options that display (Foster, Homeless, Migrant, Runaway) are set on the Online Application page (Admin > Definitions/Setup > Community > Eligibility > Online Application).
Assistance Programs
The following options are available:
•SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs)
•TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
•FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations)
•No, no one in our household
When a user checks the Yes, SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR checkbox, they are prompted to enter a case number. To prevent an entry of all zeros as the case number, the following messages will appear depending on the field entry:
•Case # cannot be less than X characters will appear for an entry of a case number less than the minimum characters set in the Min Length field.
•Case # cannot be more than X characters will appear for an entry of a case number more than the maximum characters set in the Max Length field.
•Case # is not valid will appear for an entry of a case number of all zeros meeting the minimum and maximum characters allowed.
Note: Spaces and special characters are allowed in a case number; for example, 00 000 and 00-000 are valid entries for a maximum length requirement of 6 characters.
The following note appears at the bottom of this page:
Note: Medicaid and Bridge Card numbers are not acceptable case numbers. See Help for more information on Assistance Programs.
Click Next.
Other Children
If there are other children in the household, the parent/guardian can add the child’s information on this page. Otherwise, click No other children to continue.
Other Adults
If there are other adults in the household (other than the parent/guardian), the adult information can be added. Otherwise, click No Other Adults to continue.
Income (Child)
The parent/guardian is prompted to enter their children’s income and the adult’s income, if applicable. Click Next.
Income (Adult)
The parent/guardian is prompted to enter the adult’s sources of income. Click Next.
Contact Info
The parent/guardian is prompted to enter the household address and primary contact phone and email information in case they need to be contacted regarding their application. Click Next.
Review
The parent/guardian can review and edit, if necessary, the information they provided (students, adults, assistance programs, household income, contact information) before they sign and submit the application. Click Sign.
Sign & Submit
The following links are provided in the Terms > USDA Non-Discrimination Statement section on the Sign & Submit page:
USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form Instructions site:
https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Complain_combined_6_8_12_508.pdf
How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint site:
https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint
If a district enters information in the Custom Consent Form section on the Online Applications page in FOH, the consent questions will appear under Additional Consent on the Sign & Submit page. A custom consent must be set to Active (checkbox checked) on the FOH Online Applications page to appear on the FRO Sign & Submit page.
After entering the last four numbers of the applicant’s social security number (if applicable), reviewing the Terms and Consent for Disclosure information, the parent/guardian can submit the application. Click Submit.
Submitted
A system-generated application transaction number appears on the Submitted page (the page can be printed for reference).
The application will be reviewed by the local school’s free & reduced official and the parent/guardian will be notified of the application results.