Free Meals and the Free and Reduced Program, Explained
The Free and Reduced Meal Program (FRAM) is confidential and open for all to apply. Program eligibility is determined by the district.
Although school meals are provided for free via the Healthy School Meals for All program, students qualifying for FRAM may receive discounts on school fees, athletics fees, bus passes, device fees, and more.
Families that are eligible for FRAM should provide their household income information by completing the Free and Reduced Application. By providing this information, you will be supporting our district in accessing additional federal funds that will go directly to our schools to help cover the cost of meals, other nutritional programs, and after-school programs for students.
For schools participating in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP), receiving school meals does not depend on households returning a FRAM application. At non-CEP schools, the FRAM application will be used to determine eligibility for school meals. Families only need to complete one application per household.
Application Details
Previous Free and Reduced Program Participants
If your student(s) participated in the Free and Reduced Program, please remember those participants receive carryover benefits for the first 30 school days of the year, or until a new eligibility determination is made, whichever comes first.
SNAP Participants
If you participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), previously known as food stamps, or Medicaid, and have not received a notice of Direct Certification to your Infinite Campus inbox, please complete an application and the Permission to Share form.
If you have received a notice of Direct Certification, please complete the Permission to Share form.
Online Application
Applying online is the fastest way to have your application processed.
Apply online through Infinite Campus.
Please fill out the form completely, including the Permission to Share form. Without this form, we cannot offer reduced or waived fees.
If a problem occurs while applying online, please contact our Help Desk.
Application Forms
Applying online (see the section above) is a much faster way to have your application processed.
Forms may be downloaded from the Forms section at the bottom of this page.
Paper applications are also available at each school that participates in this program or at the D20 Education and Administration Center (EAC) located at 1110 Chapel Hills Dr., Colorado Springs, CO 80920.
Only one form is required for all students in the household.
Please fill out the entire packet, including the Permission to Share form. Without this form, we cannot offer reduced or waived fees. This form is also available separately from the rest of the packet should you need it.
Application processing, whether online or paper, can take three to seven days. All applicants will be notified of their approval/denial status via their Infinite Campus inbox.
Free and Reduced FAQ
Why should I apply for free or reduced meal benefits?
Meals are provided at no charge to Academy District 20 students at participating schools through the Healthy School Meals for All program. However, families are still encouraged to complete a Free and Reduced Meal Application.
Application information helps schools receive full access to available federal funding that supports nutrition programs and other services. Families who qualify may also be eligible for benefits such as reduced school fees, class materials, bus passes, utilities support and other assistance. Children may qualify for free or reduced status if household income falls within federal eligibility guidelines. Students may also qualify if they receive SNAP, TANF or Medicaid benefits, or if they are identified as Foster, Homeless or Migrant.
Please contact the Free and Reduced Registrar for additional information.
What are the income eligibility guidelines for the 2026–27 school year?
Federal Eligibility Income Chart — Reduced
Household Size | Yearly | Monthly | 2X per Month | Bi-Weekly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $29,526 | $2,461 | $1,231 | $1,136 | $568 |
2 | $40,034 | $3,337 | $1,669 | $1,540 | $770 |
3 | $50,542 | $4,212 | $2,106 | $1,944 | $972 |
4 | $61,050 | $5,088 | $2,544 | $2,349 | $1,175 |
5 | $71,558 | $5,964 | $2,982 | $2,753 | $1,377 |
6 | $82,066 | $6,839 | $3,420 | $3,157 | $1,579 |
7 | $92,574 | $7,715 | $3,858 | $3,561 | $1,781 |
8 | $103,082 | $8,591 | $4,296 | $3,965 | $1,983 |
Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
No. Complete one Free and Reduced Meal Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an incomplete application, so please provide all required information.
Can I apply online?
Yes. To learn more about the online application process, visit the District's Free and Reduced Meal Application webpage.
My child's application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out a new one?
Yes. Your child's application is valid only for that school year and for the first 30 days of the new school year. You must submit a new application unless the school has notified you that your child is eligible for the new school year.
Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children are already approved for free meals?
No. Please read the letter you received carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household are missing from your eligibility notification, contact the Free and Reduced Registrar immediately:
Free and Reduced Registrar
1110 Chapel Hills Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
719-234-1416
free-and-reduced@asd20.org
Where can I find the results of my household application?
The results of your application will be sent to your Infinite Campus inbox. If your household is denied benefits, a letter will also be sent to the application signer's personal email address.
Can I reapply if my household's financial situation changes?
Yes. You may apply or reapply at any time during the school year. For example, if a parent or guardian becomes unemployed or household income decreases below the eligibility limit, your children may become eligible for free or reduced status. You may be asked to verify your household income.
Will the information I provide be checked?
You may be selected to provide written proof of the household income reported on your application.
What if my income is not always the same?
Report the amount you normally receive. For example, if you normally earn $1,000 each month but missed work last month and earned only $900, report $1,000 per month. If you normally receive overtime, include it. Do not include overtime if you only work overtime occasionally. If you have lost a job or your hours or wages have been reduced, use your current income. The last four digits of the Social Security number of an adult household member, or an indication of "none," are required to process a complete income application.
What if some household members have no income to report?
If a household member does not receive a particular type of income, enter 0 in the appropriate field. If an income field is left blank, it will also be counted as zero. Please leave fields blank only when you intend to report no income for that category. The last four digits of the Social Security number of an adult household member, or an indication of "none," are required to process a complete income application.
We are in the military. Do we report our income differently?
Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you receive cash-value allowances for off-base housing, food or clothing, or receive Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance payments, those must also be included as income. If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.
What if there isn't enough space on the application for my family?
List additional household members on a separate piece of paper and attach it to your application, or contact the Free and Reduced Registrar at 719-234-1416 or free-and-reduced@asd20.org for assistance.
I receive WIC. Can my children qualify?
Children in households participating in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) federal assistance program may be eligible for free or reduced status. Please submit a completed Free and Reduced Meal Application.
May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
Yes. You, your children and other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meal status. Immigration, migrant, citizenship or refugee status is not required during the application process, and families should continue to apply for free or reduced-price school meals.
The application does require the last four digits of a Social Security number for an adult household member, or an indication that there is no Social Security number. Social Security number information is not reported to any organization outside Academy School District 20.
How do I know if my children qualify as homeless, migrant or runaway?
Consider the following questions:
Does your household lack a permanent address?
Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel or other temporary housing arrangement?
Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis?
Are children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household?
If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and you have not already been notified that they qualify for free meals, please contact:
Aubrey Ranson (CWEL)
Child Welfare Education Liaison and McKinney-Vento Liaison
719-234-1362
aubrey.ranson@asd20.org
Heidi Solis
Community Liaison – Immigrants
719-234-1385
Heidi.solis@asd20.org
Why did I receive a notification that my student is Directly Certified through SNAP or Medicaid even though they are not?
To protect student privacy, matches are primarily based on information such as name, address and guardian information rather than Social Security numbers. Because of this, a small number of incorrect matches may occur.
If you believe your student is receiving benefits by mistake, contact free-and-reduced@asd20.org for assistance.
What if I disagree with the decision about my application?
You should first speak with school officials. You may also request a hearing by contacting Jennifer Duarte at 719-234-1200 or jennifer.duarte@asd20.org.
How do I get my school fees reduced if my household qualifies for free or reduced status?
You will need to complete a Free and Reduced Meal Application.
You may also need to complete the Permission to Share form, which is included with the application. The form may also be downloaded separately from this webpage or requested by contacting the Free and Reduced Registrar.
Once the form is completed, the district can notify the school that you have authorized the release of your eligibility status. Any fee reduction will be determined by the school's Principal and Bookkeeper.
Why am I seeing charges on my student's account if meals are free through Healthy School Meals for All?
Your student may have purchased a second meal or an extra à la carte item, such as cookies, additional drinks or chips. These items are still available for purchase and may result in a charge.
You can view itemized food service purchases through your student's account in Infinite Campus.
How can I pay the balance on my student's account?
You can access your student's account through Campus Payments in Infinite Campus.
Who can I contact if I cannot access Infinite Campus?
Please contact our Help Desk for assistance with Infinite Campus sign-in issues.
Why is my student being denied breakfast or lunch?
Academy District 20's policy is that no student will be denied a breakfast or lunch meal. Your student may have attempted to purchase an item that creates an additional charge, such as an à la carte item or second meal. These purchases may be denied if the student's account does not have sufficient funds.
If you believe your child has been denied a breakfast or lunch meal, please contact us immediately.
What's included in my student's meal?
Breakfast: Schools must offer all three required food components in at least the minimum required serving amounts:
Grains, with optional meats or meat alternatives
Juice, fruit or vegetables
Milk
Students must be offered at least four food items and must select at least three. One selection must include at least ½ cup of fruit, juice or vegetables. Milk is optional.
Lunch: Schools must offer all five required food components in at least the minimum required serving amounts:
Meat or meat alternatives
Grains
Fruit
Vegetables
Milk
Students must select at least three components in the required serving sizes. One selection must include at least ½ cup of fruits or vegetables. Milk is optional.
Menus are available on your school's website or on the School Meals and Menus page at ASD20.org.
My family needs more help. Are there other programs we can apply for?
Contact your local assistance office to learn about additional benefits and support programs. Colorado PEAK is an online service that can be used to screen for and apply for medical, food and cash assistance programs.
Where can I learn about Colorado's School Meal Policy for the 2026–27 school year?
Visit the Colorado Department of Education's website for information about the State of Colorado's School Meal Policy for the 2026–27 school year.
Need Additional Help?
Contact a Free and Reduced Registrar:
Phone: 719-234-1416
Email: free-and-reduced@asd20.org
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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.
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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:
Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
Fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442
Email:
program.intake@usda.gov
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