The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District will provide free and reduced-price meals to eligible students during the 2025-26 school year under federal nutrition programs.
Students qualify for free meals if their household income falls at or below $20,345 annually for a family of one, scaling up to $70,395 for a family of eight. Reduced-price meals are available for households earning up to $28,953 for one person and $100,178 for eight people.
The program covers breakfast, lunch and afterschool snacks through the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program and Afterschool Snack Program from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
Families automatically qualify for free meals if any household member receives CalFresh, CalWORKs or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations benefits. Foster children, homeless students, migrant workers' children and runaway youth also qualify for free meals regardless of household income.
Applications are available online at http://www.myschoolapps.com or can be submitted to the Food & Nutrition Services office at 1717 4th St., Santa Monica. Families can apply at any time during the school year if their financial situation changes.
Current eligibility status from the 2024-25 school year will continue for up to 30 school days into the new academic year. The district may verify application information at any time during the school year.
Families receiving Women, Infants, and Children benefits may also be eligible by completing an application. Foster families can include foster children as household members when applying for non-foster children, potentially helping them qualify for benefits.
Parents who disagree with eligibility decisions can request a fair hearing by contacting Richard Marchini, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, at 310-450-8338, ext. 70-342.
For assistance with applications, contact Food & Nutrition Services at 310-450-8338, ext. 70228.
Edited by SMDP Staff
