Klein ISD students who previously paid a small fee for school breakfast and lunch will eat free this year after the Texas Legislature funded the elimination of reduced-price meal costs through the 2026-2027 school year.
The district opened its meal benefits application Thursday, July 30, giving families time to apply before the first day of school on Wednesday, August 12. Applications are available online at kisd.us/frmealapp or through the SchoolCafe app, and only one application per household is needed.
What changed
The fee is gone.
Previously, families who qualified for reduced-price meals paid a small fee for each breakfast and lunch. The 89th Texas Legislature extended funding that had covered reduced-price breakfasts and allocated new money to cover reduced-price lunches starting after September 1, 2025. That funding now runs through the 2026-2027 school year, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture.
At Klein High School alone, 6% of students participate in the reduced-price lunch program, according to U.S. News data. Across Klein ISD's 50 campuses and roughly 52,300 students as of the 2024-25 school year, the number of families affected district-wide could be substantial.
When announcing the expanded funding on August 12, 2025, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller commended the Legislature for removing obstacles that prevent children from accessing healthy school meals.
Who qualifies
Eligibility is based on household income at or below federal guidelines, categorical eligibility through SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR, or program participation such as foster care, homelessness, or enrollment in Head Start.
Klein ISD's Nutrition and Food Services office is also working with local agencies to identify children who qualify automatically. Those families will be notified they do not need to apply. Families who believe they qualify but haven't received notification should call the Food Services Office at 832-249-4610.
How to apply
Income-based applicants need: names of all household members, the amount and frequency of current income for each member, the last four digits of the signing adult's Social Security number, and a signature. The TDA offers an eligibility calculator at SquareMeals.org/ProgramEligibility for families to check before applying.
Applications can be submitted anytime during the school year, and households whose circumstances change mid-year (a job loss or a new household member) should contact their school, as the change could make children newly eligible.
Families who disagree with an eligibility determination can appeal to Kevin Wieghat, executive director of facilities and school services, at 832-249-4518.
Klein ISD's Annual Enrollment Update for returning students must also be completed before the start of school on August 12.
