Attention: The federal free and reduced meal application for 2025-26 will be available starting on Tuesday, July 8 on SchoolCafé, the new meal payment system for Olathe Public Schools. For more information on filling out the federal free and reduced application, please check back closer to the application date.

Parents are welcome to create a SchoolCafé account at their earliest convenience; however, please note that balances will begin appearing and payments can be made starting June 1. Visit the SchoolCafé website to create an account with a new username and password or download the mobile app. Make sure you have your student ID number ready when creating a new account. As a reminder, families must apply each year for free or reduced school meals, transportation, and student registration fees.

Attention: The 2025-26 federal free and reduced meal application will be available starting Tuesday, July 8, 2025. Families must apply each year for free or reduced school meals, transportation, and student registration fees.

National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program for School Year 2025-26

• Filling out the federal free and reduced application will be necessary before students will be able to qualify for and access free or reduced breakfast and lunches during the 2025-26 school year.
• Benefit determination is based on the income guidelines (PDF) set by USDA.
• For more information on Child Nutrition Meal Program benefits, see the Letter to Household:
  • Read the English Letter to Household (PDF)
  • Read the Spanish Letter to Household (PDF)
• Online applications are highly encouraged. The process is simple and eliminates the most common mistakes, making the process much faster. At the end of your transaction, you will see a message on your screen confirming "You have successfully completed your online application" along with your application number and a summary of the information you submitted. You can view these details on the My Applications page. Once processing is complete, you will receive an official notification letter. The results will also be available on the Eligibility Notifications page in your SchoolCafé dashboard.
• If you are unable to apply online, a paper Free and Reduced Meal application can be completed and mailed to Food Services. Please keep in mind that a paper application will take longer to process (10 business days) and you are responsible for any meal charges incurred before the approval of benefits. Make sure you follow all the instructions. We cannot process an incomplete application and this will delay the process. We highly encourage you to apply online if you are able.
  • Read the English instructions for completing the application (PDF)
  • Read the Spanish instructions for completing the application (PDF)
• Families who qualify for meal benefits can also complete a Consent for Disclosure form — either online when they are applying for benefits or via paper. The consent for disclosure saves families time by giving Food Services permission to share meal benefit status with other programs so families can receive additional benefits such as reduced instructional fees. A paper copy of the consent can be found here:
  • Complete the English Consent for Disclosure form (PDF)
  • Complete the Spanish Consent for Disclosure form (PDF)
• If you have not received a notification letter within two weeks of applying, please email Child Nutrition Program Specialist Andrea Hernandez or call 913-780-7005.

SchoolCafé Parent Resources

Watch a one-minute video on free and reduced-price eligibility

Read about student eligibility

Read about student eligibility in Spanish