Universal Free Schools Meals

Universal free school meals for all students is now permanent in Massachusetts! Here is more information on Wellesley Public Schools lunches, and how best to take advantage of the universal free meals program.

For all levels, parents and students can access daily menus through www.fdmealplanner.com/#wellesley and select the appropriate school. Each lunch or menu item includes full nutritional information, including allergens. The site has a tool that allows for narrowing your selections based on allergens or dietary information.

In order to qualify for a free school meal at all school levels, students must take a complete meal that meets all nutritional requirements. Otherwise, a la carte prices apply.

Wellesley Public Schools recommends that any charges be paid through an account at MySchoolBucks.com, though WPS also takes payments by check. At MySchoolBucks, each student has an individual account. Parents may make a deposit that applies to as many of their children as they like. Each deposit requires a $3.25 program fee.


Reimbursable Meals

A Reimbursable Breakfast occurs when a student selects 3 items from the offered selection of whole grains, milk, and fruits, and where at least one of the three items selected is a ½ cup of fruit. 1 Milk is included with a Reimbursable Breakfast but is not required to be selected. Additional milks are considered ‘A La Carte’ and are charged accordingly. Each Student is allowed 1 Reimbursable Breakfast per day, a second breakfast or additional ‘entree item’ is considered ‘A La Carte’ and is charged accordingly.

Some examples of a reimbursable breakfast are…
1. a small bowl of cereal, graham crackers, an apple, a 100% fruit juice, and 1 milk
2. a granola bar, a 100% fruit juice, and a box of raisins
3. a strawberry cup, a fresh orange, and a milk
4.a large muffin and a 100% fruit juice

Every day for lunch we offer students a whole grain, a meat/meat alternate (plant/animal-based protein), a 1% or skim milk, and unlimited fruits and vegetables. Students may choose to take all 5 components offered for a Reimbursable Lunch, but at minimum they must select at least 3 where 1 component is a ½ cup of fruit or vegetable. 1 Milk is included with a Reimbursable Lunch but is not required to be selected. Additional milks are considered ‘A La Carte’ and are charged accordingly. Each Student is allowed 1 Reimbursable Lunch per day, a second lunch or ‘additional entree item’ is considered ‘A La Carte’ and is charged accordingly.

Some examples of a reimbursable lunch are…
1. a grilled chicken filet, steamed brown rice, roasted squash, fresh apple slices, and a milk
2. a slice of pizza and a strawberry cup
3. corn & black bean salad, a fresh orange, and a milk
4. a single yogurt, granola, and blueberry parfait


Contactless Checkout

Whitsons Culinary operates a contactless check out system at the high school and middle school. All students in grades 6-8 receive barcode ID cards in class. Grade 9 Students will receive cards after picture day. Grade 10-12 are required to use their existing student ID cards.

After students receive their lunch cards, please have them care for the card and treat it like cash or a credit card. We do suggest a phone app “Stocard” that has the ability to create a barcode compatible with the lunch register system. Students who have phones or smartwatch with them can use the app to eliminate the need for the card. All students can transfer their lunch barcodes to the Stocard app for convenience at the following website: https://stocardapp.com/. Using a barcode ID card speeds the lines 30% faster than typing in a PIN number and 90% faster than a manual name lookup.  


Lunch Menus & Nutrition Info

Whitsons Culinary, the district’s food service provider since 2013, has increased its organic and local offerings in recent years, including free range eggs, organic yogurts and granolas, and when possible, fruits and vegetables grown within 400 miles.


Online Lunch Payments


Free and Reduced Meal Application & Information Sharing Authorization

Even though meals are free for all, it remains extremely important for all families to complete the household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2023-24 school year so that our district can continue to establish eligibility for P-EBT benefits, waive local fees, and serve families most effectively.

When returning the Application, we also ask that you complete and return the Sharing Information with Other Programs form as well.  If your student(s) qualify for free or reduced price meals, this allows us to share your information with other programs so that your student can receive additional benefits.

  1. Free and Reduced Meal Application:
  2. Free/Reduced Lunch Status Information Sharing Authorization:
  3. WPS Financial Assistance Policy JQA
  4. WPS Financial Assistance Application & Procedures JQA-R
  5. WPS Financial Assistance Application – Confidential:
  6. NonDiscrimination Statement

Related Policies


Public Notice

Town of Wellesley

Wellesley Public Schools – Food & Nutrition Services

Children need healthy meals to learn. Wellesley Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. In School Year 2023-2024, all students will receive free breakfast and lunch at school.  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has provided money to do this for another year through the State budget. We need your help to keep providing free meals to all students in future years. Please fill out this application for free and reduced price school meals. If many families fill out and return this form, we will receive more money from the federal government for free school meals now and in the future. We will also get more money for other school programs. Filling out this form also helps our community provide free summer meals to all kids, and free meals to kids in childcare. The information you provide is confidential.  We follow strict federal rules to keep your information private.  

If you are not receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and have been approved for free or reduced-price school meals, you may be eligible for SNAP which provides monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries to Massachusetts residents who qualify. Find out if you are eligible for SNAP today by calling Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 and a counselor can help you apply over the phone. You can also apply on your own online at DTA Connect: https://dtaconnect.eohhs.mass.gov/apply

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to fill out an application for each child? 

No. Use one Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to: Sherly Cordero, Business Office, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley MA 02481, or email scordero@wellesleyma.gov.

SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE ALREADY APPROVED FOR FREE MEALS? 

No, but please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact Sherly Cordero at 781-446-6210 ext. 5632 or scordero@wellesleyma.gov immediately.

MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR.  DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE? 

Yes.  Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year.  You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year. 

May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?

Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced price meals.

Who qualifies for free or reduced price meals?

This year, all students in our schools will get free breakfast and lunch at school.  But only some students qualify as “eligible” for free meals. These are:

  • All children in households receiving benefits from MA SNAP, MA TAFDC, FDPIR, or specific categories of Medicaid are eligible for free meals.
  • Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
  • Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
  • Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
  • Children may receive free or reduced price meals if your household’s income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or reduced price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

Income Eligibility Guidelines

Federal Eligibility Income Chart for School Year 2023 – 2024 

Household size 

Yearly 

Monthly 

Weekly 

$26,973 

$2,248 

$519 

36,482 

3,041 

702 

45,991 

3,833 

885 

55,500 

4,625 

1,068 

65,009 

5,418 

1,251 

74,518 

6,210 

1,434 

84,027 

7,003 

1,616 

93,536 

7,795 

1,799 

Each additional person:  

+ 9,509 

+ 793 

+183 

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDREN QUALIFY AS homeless, MIGRANT, OR RUNAWAY?

Do the members of 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 any 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 haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please call or e-mail Dr. Kathleen Bernklow at 781-446-6210 ext. 5629 or bernklowk@wellesleyps.org.

I GET WIC.  CAN MY CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS? 

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals.  Please send in a completed application.

Will the information I give be checked?

Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.

If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later?

Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year.  For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.

What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application?

If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official, he/she may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis by calling 781-446-6210 ext. 5632. If he/she wishes to make a formal appeal, a request either orally or in writing may be made to Cynthia Mahr, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, Wellesley Public Schools, 40 Kingsbury Street, Wellesley, MA 02481.

What if my income is not always the same?

List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1,000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1,000 per month.  If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes.  If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.

WHAT IF SOME HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE NO INCOME TO REPORT?

Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.

We are in the military. Do we report our income differently?

Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. Ifyou get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, or receive Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance payments, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any 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 any additional household members on a separate piece of paper and attach it to your application.

My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for?

To find out how to apply for MA SNAP or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call the MA DTA Assistance Line at 1-877-382-2363 (press 7 to apply for SNAP).

If you have other questions or need help, call Sherly Cordero at 781-446-6210 ext. 5632.


Non-Discrimination 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/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.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: 

mail: 
U.S. Department of Agriculture 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW 
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or 

fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or 

email: program.intake@usda.gov 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.


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