The nationwide waiver to provide all K-12 students free meals regardless of income expired June 30, 2022. Meals will no longer be free to all PPS students in the 2022-23 school year. Eligible families can submit an online or paper Confidential Family Application to see if they qualify for free and reduced-priced meals.

Applying Online: 

Click on the Apply Online Button below or download the mobile app to complete and submit an application via SchoolCafe.

Two Step Process to Submit an Online Meal Application with SchoolCafe:

1. Create a SchoolCafe Account. You can use this account each school year to submit an online meal application.

2. Complete and submit the online application. You can check the status of the application and even print out the approval/denial letter*.

*IMPORTANT APPROVAL / DENIAL LETTER INFORMATION

If a household does not meet the Federal Income Guidelines but does meet the Oregon Expanded Income Guidelines (EIG), SchoolCafe will show that the meal application has been denied via the Federal Income Guidelines. However, families will receive a letter in the mail stating that students listed in the application are eligible for free meals under Oregon EIG. 

Applying with a Paper Application: 

To submit a paper application, click on the 2022-23 Confidential Family Application for Free and Reduced Priced Meals below. Print out and complete the required information and mail the application to the PPS Nutrition Services Department, 501 N. Dixon St., Portland, OR 97227 or request one from the school office or cafeteria. 

If approved, meal benefits begin on the date the application is approved and cannot be backdated to cover prior purchases. Example, if the meal application is approved on Friday, September 2nd, meals purchased from Tuesday, August 30 through Thursday, September 1 would not be free, only meals purchased September 2nd and on. Families are responsible for the meal charges incurred.   

If families do not qualify for free and reduced-price meals, a meal application can be submitted any time during the school year. This means if circumstances change that allow families to meet the income guidelines, they can submit an application at that time.

PLEAST NOTE: If your student attends a charter school or community-based site, please contact your student's school or site directly for more information on their meal application process. The PPS Meal Benefits Office processes meal applications for sites it serves and claims meals for which do not include charter schools or community-based sites.

More Information about Meal Benefits