Student Eligibility & Applications

Web-Based Meal Benefit Application

LD 701 was signed into law and directs the Maine Department of Education to make an online meal benefit application available at no cost to Maine Districts by October 1, 2019.

We have partnered with Nutri-Link Technologies, Inc, to provide this service, Nutri-Cloud, through school year 2021.  There is no cost to the district to implement.  Nutri-Cloud allows parents to go to a secure website, choose their school, and apply for meal benefits.  The Approving Officer retrieves the application data and exports it in the way they need it.  The Nutri-Link Team have available Webinars and a videos series to provide unlimited training and support. If you are interested in learning more, please email Sarah Platt with the Maine Department of Education, Child Nutrition at sarah.d.platt@maine.gov and she will forward you contact information.  No student information is shared with the Department.

School Food Service Reports including School Meals Program, Food Distribution and Summer Food

 

Direct Certification

The law now requires every school district to review the direct certification list at least three times during the school year. The Department suggest at the beginning of each quarter. Direct certification is the FIRST method to approve a student's eligibility with no application or other documentation. When a student submits an application and is on the direct certification list, that application should be filed in a folder of direct certified students/families. Maine currently is below the national benchmark of directly certified students. A report of percent of students directly certified on the list is available on the web. This information is from data submitted by each district to DOE.

Direct Certification Notification Letter 

 

Free and Reduced Applications

School Year 2021 Free and Reduced-Price Meals:

School Year 2021 Special Milk Program: 

Verification

Verification is a confirmation of a percent of eligibility for free and reduced price applications under the National School Lunch Program or Breakfast Program. It must include either confirmation of income eligibility or confirmation that the child is included in a currently certified food stamp household or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) unit. At State or local discretion, it may also include confirmation of any other information on the application, which is required as a condition of eligibility.

 

 

Resources and Training

For assistance or questions with verification reports or requirements, contact the Department's Child Nutrition Specialist David Hartley at david.hartley@maine.gov or 624-6878.