Free/Reduced Lunch 30 Day Carryover Ends 10/14/26

If your student was approved for free or reduced-price meals last school year or transferred out of a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school since last school year, they have had a temporary carryover of their free meal benefits for the first 30 days of this school year. That temporary carryover status will end on October 14, 2026.

If your student does not attend a CEP school, is not direct certified for free meals for SY 26-27, if your SY 26-27 application was denied, or if you did not submit an application for this school year, your student will begin to be charged full price for their lunches beginning October 15, 2026. 

Full price lunch costs $3.00 for Elementary/Intermediate students and $3.15 for Middle, Junior High and High School students. Breakfast and reduced-price meals are free for all students.

Students who attend a CEP school (East Derry, IV Elementary (gr. K-3), LES, Strodes Mills and LIS) receive free meals regardless of their eligibility. Students who are direct certified, or who completed a household application, were mailed notification letters. Parents of students who did not submit a household application, or whose household application was denied, are responsible for paying for their student’s school lunches.

You must qualify for free/reduced meals each school year. If you are interested in applying for free/reduced meal benefits, you may do so at any time during the school year. The free/reduced meal application can be found on the MCSD website, www.mcsdk12.org, under the Lunch Menus link.

If you have questions, please contact the Food Service Office at (717) 248-0148, ext. 2516, or email hrb41@mcsdk12.org.