Free breakfast and lunch to all students for 26-27

We are pleased to inform you that all Intermediate District 287 school sites will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2026-27 school year. This program is available to schools that participate in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program and qualify for the provision. CEP provides free breakfast and lunch to all students.

What does this mean for my student(s)? All students can receive a healthy breakfast and lunch each day at school for no charge during the 2026-27 school year. No action is required by you for your child(ren) to participate. Students must select a full reimbursable meal for it to be free. Students who choose to bring meals from home will need to purchase milk if they want it to go with their meal. 

Do I still need to complete an Application for Educational Benefits Form? Yes, the form can qualify your student for other important educational benefits, including the Summer Sunbucks program. Please register for an account and complete an online application or a paper application can be found on the Food Service page of the district website that can be submitted to your students’ school. If you would like a Food Service packet including an application mailed to you, please contact the Food Service Department.

Are à la carte items included? No, a la carte items are not free. If your child would like to make à la carte purchases in the cafeteria, please register for an account and make online payments. Please note that you will be charged a small convenience fee to utilize the online payment system. Students are required to have money in their account to make purchases. We are not able to accept cash for purchases at this time. We can accept checks or online payments. Instructions for making online deposits through School Cafe can be found on the Food Service page of the district website. 

Special Diets – If your child has a food allergy or disability that requires a special diet, you may submit a special diet request form or substitute milk request form located on the Food Service page of the district website to your schools nurse or contact the Food Service department for assistance. 

Menus – All of our meals meet the USDA nutrition standards and several fruit and vegetable options are available at meals each day. Our menus, nutrition information, and menu translations can be found at  My School Menus.

Wellness - Intermediate District 287 cares about the health and wellness of our students. Please review the districts Wellness Page to view our Wellness Policy, Triennial Assessment Report, wellness resources, and Wellness Committee agendas and information. If you are interested in joining our Wellness Committee or giving input into our Wellness Policy, please contact the Food Service department.

Breakfast - Breakfast is available free of charge to all students. Please review our breakfast information flyer for all the important reasons your student(s) should eat breakfast at school.

If you have any questions or would like to request a Food Service information packet be mailed to you, please contact the Food Service Department at foodservice@district287.org or 763-550-7136.

Sarah Schreifels 

District 287 Food Service Manager 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.