Free & Reduced-Price Meals

At the beginning of each school year, District 401 shall notify by letter all students and their parents/guardians of:

• Eligibility requirements for free and reduced-price food service
• The application process
• The name and telephone number of a contact person for the program
• Other information required by federal law

Parents/guardians enrolling a child in the District for the first time shall receive the eligibility information regardless of when during the school year the enrollment takes place.

Not sure if your family is eligible for free or reduced-priced meals? The following tables show the income eligibility guidelines. The figures for free meal eligibility are also used to determine eligibility for District 401 fee waivers.

PLEASE NOTE: The figures listed below are for determining eligibility for the 2023-24 school year. They are effective from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

To apply for free or reduced-price meals, use this online application or contact the District 401 Business Office by calling 708-583-5842.

Please send your students with a bag lunch or money to purchase lunch at school until you are notified of your free/reduced status.

If you qualified for free or reduced-price meals last school year, you can continue on the program for the first two weeks of school.

Each school's procedures in this area are governed by District 401's policy on free and reduced-price food services, which can be found in Section 4:130 of the Board of Education's District Policy Manual.