No. Only families/households who need assistance and fall within the federal Income Eligibility Guidelines should apply. Applications are automatically sent home with every student on the first day of school. Guidelines are printed on the front of the application to help parents/guardians determine if they might qualify for the program.
Yes. Families must apply every year to determine their eligibility in the FARMs program. Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines change every year, and it is likely that most household situations change each year. To avoid interruption in meal benefits while new applications are processed, student eligibility is carried over temporarily from the previous school year until the new application can be processed in September of the new school year.
Only one FARMs application is required per family/household. All children must be listed on one application, whether you complete a paper application or submit an online application.
Student/family FARMs eligibility is confidential. HCPSS will only discuss student eligibility with students, parents, guardians and cafeteria managers. All HCPSS schools currently use a Point of Sale (POS) system in cafeterias. All students must enter a six digit (6) PIN number in the POS system to pay for meals. By using this system, students do not know if a classmate’s lunch was pre-paid, free or reduced price.
Families are encouraged to complete the application online. Families who need computer or language assistance to apply online, should contact your child’s school. Complete information is available online.
Paper applications are available at school front offices. Completed applications may be mailed to: HCPSS Food & Nutrition Service Office, 10910 Clarksville Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042.
Please submit only one application per household.
HCPSS participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, which provide families with significant benefits to help save money. Qualification is based on family size and income, and enrollment is confidential. All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can get free meals regardless of income, and students from some households may be eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals.
The federal government has not extended waivers allowing free meals for all students. Consequently, for the 2022-2023 school year, students whose families do not qualify for free or reduced lunch will be required to pay the daily meal price.
Families moving to a new address within the Howard County Public School System should contact your child's current school to complete a Change of Address Form. Parents/guardians will need to provide new proof of residency documents.
Families leaving the Howard County Public School System should contact their students current HCPSS school to let the school know you will be withdrawing your child. Parents/guardians will complete a Withdrawal Request Form and be provided with documents to take to your student's new school for registration.
