With Greenwich schools opening Friday, Aug. 28, families across the district need to know whether their children qualify for free or reduced-price meals and how to apply before the Oct. 13 deadline.
Greenwich Public Schools has posted its 2026-27 eligibility policy for the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and Special Milk Program, adopting the U.S. Department of Agriculture's income guidelines effective July 1, according to a district policy announcement. The policy applies to all 15 GPS schools except New Lebanon School, which offers free meals to every student under the federal Community Eligibility Provision with no application required.
GPS enrolls roughly 8,300 students across 15 schools, per the district's October 2025 report. At all schools except New Lebanon, eligibility for free or reduced-price meals depends on household income and size. Families whose children qualified last year have a 30-school-day grace period: benefits carry over until the district receives a new application or Oct. 13, whichever comes first.
Who doesn't need to apply
Some families are automatically certified. Students in households receiving SNAP or Temporary Family Assistance benefits are directly certified at the school level. That's a change. The Department of Social Services will no longer send direct certification letters; schools now handle verification using data DSS provides. Letters go out the third week of August. Families on SNAP or TFA who haven't received notification by Sept. 16 should submit an application.
Students covered by HUSKY A (Medicaid) or Summer Electronic Benefits are also directly certified and will be notified separately. Foster children under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court qualify for free meals; a foster parent can submit a copy of the legal document or court order in lieu of an application. Students categorized as homeless, runaway or enrolled in Head Start or pre-K also qualify but should submit an application and check the relevant box.
How to apply
The district requires both the Family Application form and Addendum A, submitted together. Forms are available in English and Spanish on the GPS food services page, at each school's main office, and sent home with students. An online option is available at myschoolapps.com.
Applications ask for total household income, household size, names of all members and the last four digits of one adult's Social Security number. One application covers all children in a household.
Families participating in WIC should also apply, as WIC enrollment alone does not guarantee meal benefits.
What meals cost without the benefit
Standard prices for 2026-27: breakfast is $2.95, elementary lunch $4.30, middle school lunch $4.45 and high school lunch $4.55. Not every school serves breakfast. The 10 schools offering it include Cos Cob, Glenville, Hamilton Avenue, Julian Curtiss, New Lebanon and North Street at the elementary level, all three middle schools and Greenwich High School.
Privacy and appeals
According to the district's policy notice, application information is confidential, used only for eligibility decisions and not released for immigration-related purposes. All school-aged students in income-eligible households may receive benefits regardless of immigration status.
School principals review applications and determine eligibility. Families who disagree with a decision can appeal, orally or in writing, to Ben Branyan at 290 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, CT 06830, or by calling 203-625-4728. Questions about SNAP or TFA direct certification can go to food service director Martha Ramkellawan or administrative assistant Erika Peters.
Applications can be submitted at any time during the school year. If a household's size or income changes, families should contact their school to file a new form.
