Melissa ISD: free and reduced lunch benefits expire Sept. 25 without new application

Melissa ISD said families who received free or reduced-price meals during the 2025-26 school year must reapply for 2026-27 benefits before a Sept. 25 deadline or risk losing coverage.

In a Sept. 15 district announcement, Melissa ISD said free and reduced-price meal benefits from the prior school year expire on Sept. 25, 2026. Qualifying families must submit a new application each year, the district said.

To avoid an interruption in benefits, Melissa ISD said a completed 2026-27 application must be returned at least two school days before the expiration date if a new application has not already been filed.

Who needs to apply

Households that have been directly certified through state benefits should have received an award letter for 2026-27, according to the district. Families that have not received an award letter will need to complete a 2026-27 application to keep benefits, Melissa ISD said.

The district said the notice applies to families who receive or are eligible for free and reduced lunch benefits; others can disregard it.

How to apply

Melissa ISD said free and reduced lunch applications are available separately for primary (PK-5) and secondary (6-12) students through links in the district announcement and on its meal program webpage.

If multiple students attend the same primary or secondary campus, one application may cover all students at that campus, the district said. Families with students on both primary and secondary campuses need one application for all PreK and elementary students in the household and a separate application for all secondary students.

Secondary income documentation

For secondary students, Melissa ISD said free and reduced-price meal applications require proof of income documentation — such as recent pay stubs and tax returns — to be sent to lunchapps@melissaisd.org for verification before approval.

Documentation can be scanned and emailed to that address or mailed to Melissa ISD Child Nutrition, 2230 McKinney St., Melissa, TX 75454, the district said. Questions about the application process can also be emailed to lunchapps@melissaisd.org.

Melissa ISD said more information about the meal program is available at www.melissaisd.org/mealprogram.

Sources

melissaisd.org