Free & Reduced Meals

Our school provides healthy meals each day. The State of MN is going to provide one breakfast and one lunch at no charge for students attending public school each school day.

Complete an Application for Educational Benefits to qualify for additional benefits such as reduced fees or the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) which is a federal temporary emergency nutrition benefit that is loaded onto electronic cards for families to purchase food. At public schools, your application also helps the school qualify for education funds and discounts.

To apply, download this pdf: 2023-2024 Application for Educational Benefits, then follow the instructions to complete the Application for Educational Benefits. A new application must be submitted each year – and can be submitted more than once based on changes in your family income. Please note that the income you list on your application can be during a month when your income is lower due to circumstances like a lost job, a layoff, or seasonal work. Spanish Version Click Here

Return your completed Application for Educational Benefits to any Waconia school office, email to dsiegle@isd110.org or mail to:

Waconia Public Schools
Attn: Darlene Siegle
512 Industrial Boulevard
Waconia, MN 55387

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who can get free school meals? Children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and foster, homeless, migrant and runaway children can get free school meals without reporting household income. Or children can get free school meals if their household income is within the maximum income shown for their household size on the instructions. To apply for full school meals, please complete the current Application for Educational Benefits form.

I get WIC or Medical Assistance. Can my children get free school meals? Children in households participating in WIC or Medical Assistance may be eligible for free school meals. Please fill out an application.

Who should I include as household members? Include yourself and all other people living in the household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends).

May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens for your children to qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.

What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get overtime only sometimes. For seasonal work, write in the total annual income.

Will the information I give be checked? Yes, and we may also ask you to send written proof.

How will the information be kept? Information you provide on the form, and your child’s approval for school meal benefits will be protected as private data. For more information see the back page of the Application for Educational Benefits.

If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. Please complete an application at any time if your income goes down, your household size goes up, or you start getting SNAP, MFIP or FDPIR benefits.

Please provide the information requested about children’s racial identity and ethnicity, which helps to make sure we are fully serving our community. This information is not required for approval of school meal benefits. If you have other questions or need help, call 952-442-0600 – ASK FOR DARLENE SIEGLE.