Financial assistance for fee-based programs is offered to families who qualify for Free and Reduced lunch.  To qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, please click on the links below to get the 1. Free and Reduced Lunch Application and 2. Free and Reduced Information Sharing Form to complete. Each of these forms must be filled out on an annual basis and sent to the Wellesley Public Schools Business Office at 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481.

If you do not qualify for Free and Reduced Lunch, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the Wellesley Public Schools’ Financial Assistance Policy (#3 below).   Read #4 Regulations for the instructions and required documentation and then complete #5 Financial Assistance Application.  Submit the application and documentation to the Wellesley Public Schools Business Office, attn:  Assistant Superintendent for Finance & Operations, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley MA  02481.  You will be notified in writing once your application is received and reviewed.

Free and Reduced Meal Application:

Free/Reduced Lunch Status Information Sharing Authorization:

WPS Financial Assistance Policy JQA

WPS Financial Assistance Application & Procedures JQA-R

WPS Financial Assistance Application – Confidential:

NonDiscrimination Statement

Financial Assistance Policy

While the Wellesley School Committee has found it necessary to institute fees for various school programs and activities, the Committee strongly believes that all students should have the opportunity to participate in curricular and extra-curricular activities regardless of economic circumstances. As a result, financial assistance for school-related fees is made available to students who qualify through the centralized application process. The goals of this application process are:

  1. To establish an objective financial assistance program for all students and families;
  2. To allow families a single point of contact and status determination within the School District;
  3. To adhere to a standard of confidentiality throughout the District;
  4. To avoid any violation of the USDA School Lunch program by using Free and Reduced Lunch applications without authorization to determine eligibility for assistance for programs other than Food Services and Transportation.

NOTE: Students who qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch status may complete an Information Sharing Agreement with the District to authorize WPS to use a student’s Free/Reduced status for waivers of school program fees. Families who sign the Information Sharing Agreement do not have to complete this application in order to receive financial assistance. Under federal regulations, a student who qualifies for a Free or Reduced lunch automatically qualifies for a waiver of the transportation fee.

Financial Assistance is offered system wide and covers certain program fees related to Transportation, Athletics, Student Activities, and others. While Financial Assistance may be granted according to income guidelines, a minimum non-refundable registration or participation fee may be required for fee-based activities and programs.

This Wellesley Public Schools Financial Assistance Program does not include:

  • Tuition-based programs (PAWS Preschool, Child Lab, etc.).
  • Student travel programs, including overnight trips. (Support will be available for curricular field trips that take place during the school day in conjunction with classroom instruction.)
  • PSAT, SAT, AP and other fees charged by outside organizations.
  • High School Parking.
  • Fines for lost or damaged books, lockers or other fines.
  • Purchase or lease of technology program devices. (Note: a student with financial need will be provided a school-owned device.)

Please note that non-WPS financial assistance may be available for the above programs. Contact the program director to inquire about the availability of financial assistance from other sources.

The amount of financial assistance that a family may qualify for is based on the total household income as it relates to the Federal Poverty Guideline in any given year.   The following table is how the amount of financial assistance is determined:

Household Income Relative to Federal Poverty GuidelineDetermination StatusFamily Will Pay:
2 times the Poverty GuidelineApproved for full waiverNo fee
2.5 times the Poverty Guideline75% fee reduction25% of the program fee
3 times the Poverty Guideline50% fee reduction50% of the program fee

Income Eligibility Guidelines

Federal Eligibility Income Chart for School Year 2024 – 2025 

Household size 

Yearly 

Monthly 

Weekly 

1 

$27,861 

$2,322

$536 

2 

37,814 

3,152 

728 

3 

47,767 

3,981 

919 

4 

57,720 

4,810 

1,110 

5 

67,673 

5,640 

1,302 

6 

77,626 

6,469 

1,493 

7 

87,579 

7,299 

1,685 

8 

97,532 

8,128 

1,876 

Each additional person:  

+ 9,953 

+ 830 

+192 

Financial Assistance Application & Procedures

Process for Applying

There are two ways to receive financial assistance:

  1. through the Free/Reduced Lunch program by completing an Information Sharing Agreement,

OR

  1. by completing this application. If you qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch and submit the Information Sharing Agreement, you do not need to file this application.

Financial Assistance Applications must be completed each school year. The application is available online and copies are available from the Business Office and from individual school offices. Families should continue to register according to posted program deadlines to ensure that the ability to participate in a program is not missed while the application is being processed.

When to Apply

Applications are processed by the Business Office as they are submitted throughout the school year and we make every effort to process them quickly to be responsive to families’ needs. To ensure that your student is approved to participate at the start of any activity during the year it is best to submit the application prior to the start of the school year. However, in no event should you apply for financial assistance for a specific activity less than two (2) weeks prior to the start of that activity so there is no delay in your student’s ability to participate.

Where to Apply

All applications must be submitted to the following address:

Wellesley Public Schools
School Business Office
Attn: Financial Assistance
40 Kingsbury Street
Wellesley, MA 02481

Determination of Income

The Wellesley Public Schools Financial Assistance Program determines income based on the income of all household residents. Everyone living in your household is required to submit income documentation including domestic partners, relatives, and any other individuals residing at the address. The District has a single application procedure for all school fees for the full school year (School Lunch being the only exception). No employee, coach, or staff member has the authority to waive any fees or charges without the income determination letter provided by the Business Office.

Required Documentation

Required documentation of household income includes but is not limited to the following:

  • IRS Federal Tax Return for the most recent tax year (form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ).
  • The most recent two month period of paychecks/income for each resident of the household who is employed.

If you do not have a copy of your tax return, you can obtain a FREE official Tax Return Transcript of your Federal Tax Return from the IRS for each of the wage earners, not filing jointly, residing in the household. See instructions on the Document Checklist attached to the Application Form.

Other Supporting Documentation

The following are additional documents you may submit, or be asked to submit, if they apply to your circumstances. These documents are not required but if you have one or more of them please submit them with your application to help expedite the process:

  • Unemployment Compensation and Severance Pay for any member of the household;
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Disability Income;
  • Alimony and Child Support Agreements;
  • Transitional Assistance Letters and Benefits;
  • Wellesley Housing Authority Income Determination Letter;
  • Section 8 Housing Voucher
  • Valid Employment Contract if not paying taxes

Foster Children are considered as one household and are not included as a member of the family with whom they are residing nor in the household income of the custodial parent;

Non-Custodial Parent income is considered when one parent receives the tax deduction for the dependent and there is no record of child support.

If you need guidance in making an application for financial assistance or cannot provide the documentation items above, please contact the Business Office.

Other Financial Assistance available in Massachusetts

Department of Transitional Assistance: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP is the name for the Food Stamp Program. If you live in Massachusetts, you can apply for SNAP/Food Stamps online at http://www.mass.gov/snap. To get more information about SNAP/food stamp benefits and an application, call the Department of Transitional Assistance SNAP Benefits Hotline at 1-866-950-FOOD (3663). SNAP benefits are available for qualified Massachusetts residents.