Free & Reduced

Free and Reduced Benefits Program 

The Free and Reduced benefits program ensures qualifying families will receive access to many benefits at D49, including individual assistance for transportation fees and school fees for athletics, field trips or classes. 

As a participating district in Colorado’s Healthy Meals for All Program, D49 will serve both breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students. Each student is entitled to one breakfast (if their school has a breakfast program) and one lunch per school day.

Who Qualifies for Free and Reduced Benefits

Even though D49 students will be served breakfast and lunch at no cost through the Colorado program, you still need to apply for benefits through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), which is a federally assisted meal program that provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches and breakfasts to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act. With over 1 in 5 children in the United States living in a food-insecure household, NSLP plays a critical role in the healthy development and long-term health and educational outcomes for low-income children. 

Children in households with incomes below 130 percent of the poverty level or those receiving SNAP or TANF qualify. Those with family incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the poverty line also qualify. When school is out of session in the summertime, children continue to receive nutritious meals and snacks through the Summer Food Service Program. Families must apply each year. We encourage families to apply even if they have been denied in the past, and especially if their financial situation has changed in recent months. 

Those with a current SNAP or Medicaid number will be automatically approved into the Free and Reduced Program.

If you have any questions, please contact Monica Deines-Henderson, nutrition services director, at 719-495-1106.

To apply for the Free and Reduced Benefits Program at D49, check out the Nutrition Services information webpage. 

Please keep in mind:

• Families must reapply every year. 
• Families who had meal benefits last year have a 30 day grace period to apply for this year before students will be removed.
• Families are responsible for all purchases until applications are processed and qualified for benefits. 
• Families can use PaySchools to make on-line meal payments, set up low-balance alerts and track student purchases. 
• Reduced meal co-pays are covered by the state of Colorado, making the meals no cost for qualifying students (K-12) 

Other Benefits with NSLP

If you are enrolled in the Free and Reduced Benefits Program you are eligible for other financial benefits.

Check with your school for reduced or waved fees for:

• Transportation / Bus fees 
• School athletics
• School classroom fees
• Testing fees 
• Field Trips 

Check with these community organizations for reduced or waved fees for:

• Parks & Rec youth sports
• YMCA fees
• Cable/internet carriers
• Phone carriers
• Community animal hospitals, free or reduce fees on some services like neutering.
• Cheyenne Mountain Zoo offers summer camp scholarships
• El Paso County Nature Centers offers $4 program fees and summer camp scholarships

District 49’s Career and College Readiness

Did you know that you can explore careers, develop technical skills, earn industry certifications, and take free college classes through D49? Check out the variety of Career & College Readiness programs available where you can learn more about your interests and talents, build your digital profile and resume, and work on real-world projects to prepare for your future goals and dreams.

You do not have to be enrolled in the Free and Reduced Benefits Program to participate in these programs. But, those students that are enrolled can receive free college text books or waived costs, like the beauty school lab fees.  

Career training can begin in middle school, while free college and Career Start begins with 9^th grade.

More information is available on the Career & College Readiness webpage.