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Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications Now Open For KCS Families

Knoxville, TN

Families in the Knox County Schools (KCS) district can apply for free and reduced-price meals for the 2024-25 school year. As the new academic year begins on August 8, the KCS Nutrition Department urges families experiencing financial difficulties to submit their applications.

How to Apply

Families can complete their applications online through the LINQ Connect portal. For those who prefer a paper application, forms are available at the school cafeteria or can be mailed to:

Knox County Schools Nutrition Department
PO Box 2188,
Knoxville, TN 37901,
ATTN: Federal Application Verification Clerk.

Automatic Eligibility

All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP or Families First are automatically eligible for free meals, regardless of income. Additionally, children in households whose gross income is within the federal limits may also qualify. However, families must fill out the application annually.

CEP Schools

KCS participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) at select schools. Students at these schools receive breakfast and lunch at no charge. The list of CEP schools includes:

• Adrian Burnett Elementary
• Austin East High
• Bearden Middle

Breakfast and lunch meals adhere to the USDA guidelines for healthy school meals.

Additional Information

Parents or guardians seeking more information about the application process or eligibility criteria can contact the Knox County Schools Nutrition Department at 865-594-9563.

FAQs

• Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No, one application covers all students in a household.
• Can I apply online? Yes, families can apply online through the LINQ Connect portal.
• Do I need to reapply each year? Yes, applications must be renewed annually. If new applications are not submitted by September 19, 2024, full meal prices will be charged.

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