The ECISD School Nutrition Department has announced a policy that this school year, healthy meals will continue to be offered every school day to all students at no cost.
Typically, a household must meet income eligibility requirements to qualify for free or reduced-price meals. However, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued guidance that allows schools to continue offering free meals to all students at no cost for the 2021-2022 school year.
Meal applications are required for middle and high school households and The Odessa Y Learning Center only. Elementary households are required to complete an Income Survey, a separate form from district meal applications. ECISD will provide elementary households more details on this soon. Call 432-456-9749 for any questions regarding this statement.
While no application or eligibility determination is required for your student to receive free meals this school year, income eligibility requirements will likely resume in the 2022-2023 school year.
As such, the ECISD School Nutrition Department will process household applications during school year 2021-2022 to ensure middle and high school student eligibility for free or reduced-price meals during the first 30 days of the 2022-2023 school year while 2022-2023 applications are being processed. Each school/site or central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed upon request.
Starting on July 23, ECISD began distributing letters to the households of the children in the district about these 2022-2023 eligibility benefits and actions households need to take to apply. Applications also are available at the ECISD School Nutrition Central Office located at 1120 W. 10th St., Odessa.
