The Princeton Independent School District has announced its policy for providing free and reduced-price school meals for the 2026-27 school year and will begin distributing eligibility letters to households the week of Aug. 3.

Families who qualify but do not receive a notification may still apply through the district.

Students may qualify for meal benefits based on household income or participation in certain assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Eligibility also extends to foster children and students who are homeless, runaway, migrant, displaced by a declared disaster, or enrolled in Head Start or Even Start programs.

Families applying based on income must complete an application listing all household members, current income sources and amounts, and the last four digits of the signing adult’s Social Security number or indicate that no Social Security number is available. Applications may be submitted to any PISD campus or the district’s Child Nutrition Office at 810 Mabel Ave. and are accepted throughout the school year.

The district said it will identify students who automatically qualify for benefits and notify those households that no application is required.

Families who believe they qualify but do not receive a notification should contact Amber Evans, director of child nutrition. Households that wish to decline benefits may also contact the PISD Child Nutrition Office, (469) 952-5400, ext. 4145.

District officials will review applications and determine eligibility. Families who disagree with an eligibility decision may first discuss the matter informally with the reviewing official or request a formal hearing.

Households experiencing changes such as unemployment or an increase in family size are encouraged to contact the Child Nutrition Office, as those changes may affect eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.

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