Please review the income eligibility charts below to determine whether your household may qualify.
What Families Should Know
- Families should submit one application for all children in the household.
- No application is required when a family receives a notification confirming that its children automatically qualify.
- Children may automatically qualify when a household member receives CalFresh, CalWORKs or FDPIR benefits.
- Foster children and children who meet the definition of homeless, migrant or runaway are eligible for free meals.
- Families receiving WIC benefits may also qualify and are encouraged to apply.
- Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year, especially when household income decreases or household size increases.
- Eligibility from the previous school year may continue for up to 30 school days while a new application is processed.
Apply Online
Families may complete a secure online application at:
Complete the Online Meal Application
For assistance with the application, contact AnaMaria Cortez-Salcedo at 714-843-3242.
Applications may also be submitted to the FVSD Nutrition Services Office:
10055 Slater Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Income eligibility guidelines are effective August 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
| Household Size | Annual | Monthly | Twice Per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $20,748 | $1,729 | $865 | $798 | $399 |
| 2 | $28,132 | $2,345 | $1,173 | $1,082 | $541 |
| 3 | $35,516 | $2,960 | $1,480 | $1,366 | $683 |
| 4 | $42,900 | $3,575 | $1,788 | $1,650 | $825 |
| 5 | $50,284 | $4,191 | $2,096 | $1,934 | $967 |
| 6 | $57,668 | $4,806 | $2,403 | $2,218 | $1,109 |
| 7 | $65,052 | $5,421 | $2,711 | $2,502 | $1,251 |
| 8 | $72,436 | $6,037 | $3,019 | $2,786 | $1,393 |
| For each additional family member, add: | $7,384 | $616 | $308 | $284 | $142 |
| Household Size | Annual | Monthly | Twice Per Month | Every Two Weeks | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $29,526 | $2,461 | $1,231 | $1,136 | $568 |
| 2 | $40,034 | $3,337 | $1,669 | $1,540 | $770 |
| 3 | $50,542 | $4,212 | $2,106 | $1,944 | $972 |
| 4 | $61,050 | $5,088 | $2,544 | $2,349 | $1,175 |
| 5 | $71,558 | $5,964 | $2,982 | $2,753 | $1,377 |
| 6 | $82,066 | $6,839 | $3,420 | $3,157 | $1,579 |
| 7 | $92,574 | $7,715 | $3,858 | $3,561 | $1,781 |
| 8 | $103,082 | $8,591 | $4,296 | $3,965 | $1,983 |
| For each additional family member, add: | $10,508 | $876 | $438 | $405 | $203 |
Households do not need to submit an application if they receive a notification letter stating that all children in the household automatically qualify for free meals because a household member receives benefits through CalFresh, CalWORKs, or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, as well as children enrolled in a school's Head Start program, are also eligible for free meals. If any eligible child in the household is not listed on the notification letter, the household should contact school officials. Households must notify school officials if they do not wish to receive free or reduced-price meal benefits.
Households wishing to apply for meal benefits must complete one application for all children in the household and submit it to the Nutrition Services Office at 10055 Slater Avenue, Fountain Valley, CA 92708. For a simple and secure application process, households are encouraged to apply online at https://www.nlappscloud.com/. For assistance completing an application, please contact AnaMaria Cortez-Salcedo at (714) 843-3242. The school will notify the household whether the application has been approved or denied for free or reduced-price meal benefits.
Households may submit an application at any time during the school year. If a household is not eligible at the time of application but later experiences a decrease in household income, an increase in household size, or begins receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR benefits, a new application may be submitted. Information provided on the application is used solely to determine eligibility and may be verified by school officials at any time during the school year. If household income is reported on the application, the last four digits of the Social Security number of an adult household member—or an indication that no Social Security number is available—must be provided.
Households receiving benefits through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may also qualify for free or reduced-price meal benefits by submitting an application.
Foster children are eligible for free meals and may be included as household members if the foster family chooses to apply for non-foster children using the same application. Including foster children as household members may help non-foster children qualify for free or reduced-price meal benefits. If the non-foster children are not eligible, foster children will continue to receive free meal benefits.
A child's eligibility status from the previous school year will continue for up to 30 school days into the new school year, or until the school processes a new application or the child is otherwise certified for free or reduced-price meal benefits, whichever occurs first. After the 30-school-day carryover period, students will be charged the full price for meals unless the household has received a notification confirming eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits. School officials are not required to send reminders or notices when eligibility expires.
If a household disagrees with the eligibility determination or the results of the verification process, the decision may be discussed with school officials. Households also have the right to request a fair hearing by contacting the hearing official:
Isidro Guerra
10055 Slater Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 843-3251
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027 (PDF), found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
- Mail
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
- Fax
202-690-7442; or
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.