Free and Reduced, Meal Accounts and Payments

Children need healthy meals to learn. Wichita Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day.

Your child may qualify for free meals or for reduced-priced meals. Your household is expected to pay full price for meals for your student(s) until the application is processed; you will be notified when your application is approved or denied.

Please verify that your mailing address is correct at your child’s school so you can be notified. If you wish to be notified electronically, please provide a valid email on your application. If you do not receive a letter within ten business days, contact Nutrition Services.

Free and Reduced Meal Applications

Getting Started

It's not just for meals, every Free and Reduced Meal Application counts!

Every application not submitted means lost resources for our schools and students. Filling out an application may help provide:

Free or reduced-priced meals for students
Resources for classrooms, teachers, and children
Healthy and nutritious meals
Fee waivers for college applications, admission tests, and more

Children need healthy meals to learn. Wichita Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Your child may qualify for free meals or for reduced-priced meals. Your household is expected to pay full price for meals for your student(s) until the application is processed; you will be notified when your application is approved or denied.

How Do I Apply

Before You Apply

We strongly encourage all parents/guardians to submit a Free and Reduced Meal Benefit Application. Applications may be completed online and take less than 10 minutes. You only need to complete one application for your household. Here is what you will need:

It is helpful to have each of your students' ID's before you start the application process, but not required.
How many people live in your household?
Name of everyone who lives in your household
Approximate income per person

How to Apply

You can go to LINQ Connect to sign in or create an account to use to apply for free/reduced meal benefits or you can download the LINQ Connect app from your app store. Need more help? Check out the Need Help section.

LINQ Connect

Important: Make sure you enter “Wichita Public Schools” for your district.

Status Notification

Once your application is processed, you will receive your status letter via email notification from LINQ Connect/Titan (if you supplied your email address during the application process), otherwise you will receive a letter via US Mail.

If you submitted your application by signing into your LINQ Connect account, then you will be able to, then you will be able to see proof of submission, where the application is at in the status approval process, view your status letter (once your application is processed)

What Can Be Used to Reduce School Fees

OPTION 1: Letter of Eligibility

You can show the eligibility letter on your phone (from your LINQ Connect account) or from your email; you can also bring a printed copy of either. If you received a letter in the mail, you can bring that letter to the school. The letter you provide must have a date of 7/1/24 or later (in the 2024-25 school year) for it to be considered.

screenshot of eligibility letter example

OPTION 2: LINQ Connect Meal Application Status

You can show your student's eligibility status on your phone (from your LINQ Connect account). The status must have an expiration date of Sep 2024 for it to be considered.

OPTION 3: Online Application Confirmation

You can show your household's Online Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Application confirmation page on your phone (from LINQ Connect); this can be the live page or a screenshot. You may also bring a printed copy. The confirmation must show the Academic Year as 2024/2025 for it to be considered.

OPTION 4: No Proof Available

If you have none of the above available, if the bookkeeper at your student's school cannot see your status (for this method, you must fill out the Consent for Disclosure, which is part of online enrollment), you will either need to pay full fees or complete an "agreement to pay".

General Information

Annual Parent Letter

Parent letters are sent every year, after July 1. They contain frequently asked questions such as how to apply for free/reduced meal benefits and how to qualify for reduced-priced textbook fees.

24-25 Annual Parent Letter English

24-25 Annual Parent Letter Spanish

24-25 Annual Parent Letter Vietnamese

Eligibility Letter Reprint Requests

Eligibility (meal status) letters are sent when student eligibility changes. You can submit a request for another eligibility letter. Please note, that letter requests can take up to 2 weeks, depending on the time of year your request is received.

24-25 Request Eligibility Letter Reprint

Income Eligibility Guidelines

School districts are required to provide the income eligibility guidelines annually.

24-25 Income Eligibility Guidelines English

24-25 Income Eligibility Guidelines Spanish

Foster, Homeless, Migrant, Institutionalized

Please know that while the categories listed below will allow a student to be free, it is not always automatic. Please refer to the sections below to determine if any additional steps are required for your student. If you have any questions, please contact our office.

IMPORTANT:

Any charges that occur before the student is processed (homeless, migrant, or institutionalized child designation/certification, or application) are the responsibility of the parent/guardian/institution and are subject to the District's Debt Policy.
Charges incurred cannot be waived due to failure to complete the process or being unaware of requirements.
In most instances, some action is required in order to be able to process the student for free meal benefits (submit an application that contains the benefits you receive, foster status, or income status; or submit a residency questionnaire.

Foster

Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals. If a student attends, but does not live in an institution, they are considered to be a member of the household in which s/he resides as a foster student.

YOU MUST complete the following steps in order to ensure your foster children receive FREE meals!

CONTACT - Contact the Nutrition Services Department (contact information at the bottom of this page) to inquire whether the student(s) in question could be considered Directly Certified by the state. If the student can be Directly Certified, the Nutrition Services Department will let you know immediately. Once they process your student, they will be FREE*.
APPLY - If the Nutrition Services Department cannot Directly Certify your student, then you (foster parent) will need to fill out a Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Application. The fastest way to do this would be online (link above). Make sure that you mark your student(s) as a foster student. The caseworker cannot fill out an application. Applications must be processed within 10 days of receipt.
CONFIRMATION – You will receive a notification from the Nutrition Services Department informing you of your student’s FREE meal benefit status. If you were told that the student could be directly certified, you should receive your notice within 1 week. If you applied for meal benefits, you should receive your notice within 2 weeks of submitting your application.

Homeless/Runaway

Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.

The McKinney-Vento Program provides services for families to help overcome the obstacles and barriers so that their children and youth can be successful in school. If you or you know of anyone who is temporarily living in any of the following situations due to economic hardship, eviction or loss of housing, they may qualify for our services. These families do not have a regular night nighttime residence of their own.

Families are temporarily:

doubled up living with a friend or relative
staying in a motel or hotel
living in an emergency, transitional or domestic violence shelter
living in a car, public place, abandoned building or campground

Unaccompanied youth without parent or guardian support and who do not have a home may also qualify for the program.

Homeless students must be designated as homeless by the district Homeless Liaison before they can be processed for free meal benefits due to their homeless status.

Please visit the district's MCKINNEY-VENTO Homeless Education page for further information.

Migrant

Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.

Migrant students are students who have moved across school district boundaries in the past 3 years in order to get work related to agriculture or meat processing.
Migrant students must be designated as migrant by the district Migrant Liaison before they can be processed for free meal benefits due to their migrant status.
Please visit the district's Multilingual Education Services page for further information on the Migrant Education Program.

Institutionalized (For Institutions Only)

If a student is living (even temporarily) in a residential childcare institution, they are considered an institutionalized child.

YOU MUST complete the following steps in order to ensure your institutionalized child will receive FREE meals!*

CERTIFY - Click the link below to certify child/ren living at your facility. Print the form, then return the completed and signed form to: KidsEat@usd259.net.
CONFIRMATION – Your institution will receive a notification from the Nutrition Services Department (from Titan/Linq) informing you of your student’s free meal benefit status. You should receive your notice within 1 week via email and/or mail.

24-25 Institutionalized Child Eligibility Certification List

Verification

Verification of free and reduced-price meal applications is an annual federal requirement for all local education agencies (LEAs) that collect eligibility applications to determine free and reduced-price meal benefits for students.

SELECTION

How do I know if I've been selected? If you received a letter with the title "Confirm Your Eligibility for Free/Reduced Price Meals", you have been selected for verification. If you are unsure, please contact our office (see contact us)

ACTION REQUIRED

If you are selected, you will need to send the requested information to Nutrition Services. The documents will verify you are eligible for free/reduced-priced meals.

WHAT TO SUBMIT

FA, TAF, FDPIR - If you or someone in your household are receiving benefits from Food Assistance (FA), Temporary Assistance for Families (TAF) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR benefits) at the time of application, or any time since, please send us your FA, TAF, or FDPIR Certification Notice that shows dates of certification OR you can send a letter from the FA, TAF, or FDPIR office that shows dates of certification. Do not send your EBT card. If you send us one of the above documents, you are DONE. You do NOT need to send anything else.
Homeless/Migrant: Contact Denise Fuoco (homeless liaison) at 316.973.4670 or Denise Aldrich (migrant liaison) at 316.866.8027 for help.
Foster Child: Send documentation that verifies your child is the legal responsibility of the agency or court OR provide the name and contact information for a person at the agency or court who can verify your child’s foster status.
None of the Above: Return the verification selection letter along with documentation of your household’s sources of income for either the month before application, or any month since. Document(s) must show:
- Name of person who received the income
- Date received
- Amount received
- How often it was received

SOURCES OF INCOME:

Jobs: Paycheck stubs that show the amount and how often pay is received (2 consecutive pay stubs required if frequency is not indicated); letter from employer stating gross wages and how often you are paid; or, if you work for yourself, business or farming papers, such as a ledger or tax books.
Social Security, Pensions, or Retirement: Social Security retirement benefit letter, statement of benefits received, or pension award notice.

socialsecurity.gov/myaccount

Unemployment, Disability, or Worker’s Compensation: Notice of eligibility from State employment security office, check stub, or letter from the Worker’s Compensation office.

GetKansasBenefits.gov

Welfare Payments: Benefit letter from the DCF office.
Child Support or Alimony: Court decree, agreement, or copies of checks received.

http://www.kspaycenter.com/

All Other Income (Such as Rental Income): Information that shows the amount of the income, name of the person who receives the income, the date it was received, and how often it was received.
Military Housing Privatization Initiative: Letter or rental contract showing that your housing is part of the Military Privatized Housing Initiative.
If you do not have income, please send a brief note explaining how you provide food, clothing, and housing for your household, and when you expect an income.
If you work on a seasonal basis, call us and we will help you figure out what to send.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Take pictures of the front of the letter you were sent, as well as the requested documents with your phone/camera and email them to KidsEat@usd259.net.
Mail documents to Nutrition Services, 3850 N. Hydraulic, Wichita, KS 67219. If possible, send copies. Or fax to 316-973-2162.
Come in person to the Nutrition Services office located at 3850 N. Hydraulic, Wichita, KS 67219 to drop off the documents
You may also return copies of these documents to your child/children’s school.
- For elementary, K-8, and special schools, return to the Satellite Cashier in the school office.
- For middle school and high school, return to the Cafeteria Manager in the school cafeteria.

NON-COMPLIANCE

What if I don't send in my information or ignore the notice? Your student(s) will stop receiving free or reduced-price meals as well have their reduction of school fees re-evaluated.

QUESTIONS

For questions or help, please contact Nutrition Services (see contact us section)

LINQConnect General and Free/Reduced FAQs

Getting Started

I just registered and when I try to log in it says, “Invalid email or password”? Your account will not be active until you have verified your email address and password. Check your email for the verification link.
When I log in, I do not see my student’s account? You will need to add your student to your LINQ Connect account. Click on + then Type and complete the information to link your student. Please enter the student ID as well as the EXACT student name and date of birth (as shown in ParentVue or on your linked student). You will need to complete this process for each student you wish to add.
What if I have several student's in different districts? You can add as many children student’s as you need, as long as they attend a school district utilizing LINQ Connect for their meal payment account.
How can I update my email address and password? In the upper right-hand corner, click on the Profile icon, then select your account name. To change your email address, select the Update Email button. To update your password, click on Update Password.
Can I access my account through any browser? You can access your account through any browser except Internet Explorer, which is no longer supported. However, the LINQ Connect system is optimized for Google Chrome.
Can I access my account through a mobile app? Yes, you will need to download the LINQ Connect app in the Apple Store or Google Play Store.
Are there instructions for LINQ Connect? Yes! Go to the Need Help? section below, and click on a link for detailed video/instructions.
How can I update my email address and or password? Go to the Need Help? section below, and click on the How to Update Your Address/Email on your LINQConnect Account link for detailed video/instructions.
We have a split household, can both of us have a student account? Yes. You would simply set up a new account with your email address. Grandparents can even do this. When you link your student to your account, you can then view account balances and deposit funds separately. Your financial information will only be visible to you. However, available student balances will be visible to any guardian or family member who has access to your student through LINQ Connect.

Free and Reduced Meal Application

Can I use my cell phone to fill out an Online Meal Benefit Application? Absolutely! You can use your cell phone to apply in one of two ways.

Download the LINQ Connect App on your phone.
Go to the website (link below). LINQ Connect is mobile responsive, which makes using your phone or tablet easy! You can access your account through any browser except Internet Explorer, which is no longer supported.

LINQ Connect

How do I get instant status processing for my students? You can receive instant status for your student(s) if all of the following apply:
- You have created a LINQ Connect account.
- You have submitted your Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Application online through your LINQ Connect account.
- You entered your student’s information EXACTLY as it appears on your linked student in the LINQ Connect. This includes your student’s ID, First Name, Last Name and Date of Birth.
- There is no reason for the application to be held for review (such as an issue).
What happens if I don't receive instant status? What should I do? If you want to be considered for reduced school fees, make sure you print or screenshot the online application confirmation page after submitting. See the How Do I Get Reduced-Priced Fees Section for further details.
Can I go back if I make a mistake on my online application? Once you submit the application, you can no longer make changes. You can go back and add/correct information to the application any time before you submit the application. You will need to contact Nutrition Services to make changes after submission. You may be directed to submit another application or a correction might be made, depending on the issue. Submission of a new application doesn't necessarily fix the issue.
What if I have a case number? When you enter the application and indicate a case number, your application will be processed normally. Your case number will be reviewed for validity and if it is found not valid, you will be notified. If you have a case number from another state, please type the name of the state directly after the case number.
What will happen if I keep applying until I get the status I want? If you apply a specific number of times in a row, your household will be flagged and will be required to verify your application information.
How does Nutrition Services determine which application is correct if I submit more than one? The last application with the greatest status is used. If you have a change in household income or size, you may reapply for greater meal benefits status.
Is the online application available in other languages? Yes! Go to the Need Help? section below, and click on the How to Change Language on Free/Reduced Application link for detailed instructions.

Need Free/Reduced Help?

Click on one of the links below for further instructions/videos:

LINQConnect Help Page

How to Change Language of Online Free and Reduced Application

How to Create a LINQConnect Account

How to Link Students to your LINQConnect Account (staff cannot be linked)

How to Update Your Address/Email on your LINQConnect Account

How to Apply Online for Free and Reduced Meal Benefits

24-25 How to Figure Income for the Online Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Application

24-25 Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Paper Application Instructions

How to Fill out a Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Paper Application Video

CONTACT US

Email us at: KidsEat@usd259.net
Call us at: 316.973.2160

Contact Us (Free/Reduced)

Meal Payments & Meal Accounts

Board of Education Policy

Donations

Refunds

To request a refund, click the link below:

24-25 Refund Request

MEAL ACCOUNT REFUND REQUEST REQUIRED FOR

All refunds over $20
If the student or staff member is inactive
There is not enough cash on hand at the school to perform the refund
The request is for a non-staff adult meal account.

REFUND RESTRICTIONS

All Student Meal Account and Staff Adult Meal Account refund requests must be made before the end of the school year within 1 year of the student withdrawal date or staff termination/ retirement date or remaining funds will be donated to benefit a district student in need.
All Non-Staff Adult Meal Account refund requests must be made before the end of the school year within 1 year of the last transaction or remaining funds will be donated to benefit a district student in need.
For Student Meal Account Refunds, checks will only be issued to individuals listed as parent/guardian in the district's Student Information System.

REFUND TIMELINES

Please allow 30 days for the request to be processed.
Requests submitted after May 25th and before August 1st will be processed in August.

When you fill out a Meal Account Refund Request, you request a refund, or elect to transfer or donate your remaining balance.

Spending Limits

To update spending limits, go to LINQ Connect to sign in or create an account or you can download the LINQ Connect app from your app store. Need more help? Check out the Need Help section.

LINQ Connect

Spending limits can be set by parents on LINQ Connect.
To set spending limits, the student must be linked to the parent's account (See the Need Help section)
Spending limits only apply to ala carte items (such as an extra milk, 2nd entree, or snack items).
Parents can set up spending limits for a day or by meal session (breakfast or lunch). Parents can elect to set the limit by quantity, by amount, or by both. Below are a few examples of how to set spending limits.

Spending limit set to 1 item AND $2 for lunch

Spending limit set to $1 daily

shows dollar limit per day on student account

Spending limit set to $2 for lunch

Student Accounts

To make a student meal payment, click the PAY button on the right.

GENERAL INFORMATION

An account is automatically set up for each student shortly after enrollment at USD 259. Parents are encouraged to pay for meals in advance by making prepayments into their student's account(s).
Students' accounts stay active for as long as students remain at USD 259. This means that if a student changes schools within the Wichita Public School District, their balance will move with them.

HOW TO FUND AN ACCOUNT

LINQ Connect Payment (for further assistance, see the Need Help? section)
Payment at your student’s school
- For elementary, K-8, and special schools, cash or check payments should be taken to the school office.
- For middle and high schools, you will need to check in at the school office when you first arrive. Cash or check payments should be taken to the Cafeteria Manager in the school cafeteria.

Non-Staff Adult Accounts

24-25 Adult Meal Account Request

GENERAL INFORMATION

We love it when parents, grandparents, or other family members choose to eat with a student during their lunch or breakfast! For meal prices, please refer to the Adult/Visitor prices in the Meal Prices section.
If eating at school is something you plan to do often, please click on the link above to request an Adult (Non-Staff) Meal Account. We strongly encourage that all non-staff adults set-up a meal account.
All adult meal accounts must be positively funded. Adults cannot charge.

HOW TO FUND AN ACCOUNT

If you plan on eating at an elementary, K-8, or special school, please check in and make a payment at the school office before going to the cafeteria. You will need to bring exact change for your meal until you have a meal account, unless you want to donate the rest to a student in need.
If you plan on eating at a middle school or high school, you will need to check in at the school office when you first arrive, but the payments should be taken to the Cafeteria Manager in the school cafeteria.

IMPORTANT

Once you complete the registration, you will receive a confirmation email containing your ID number within 3-5 business days.
By filling out the form and requesting an account, you agree to allow your funds to be donated to a student in need if you do not utilize your account during the school year. The donation will occur in June following the school year with inactivity. Once this has occurred, it is not reversible.

LINQ Connect Meal Account and Payment FAQs

Why are there 2 payment systems (for meals and fees)? The district has made the decision to maintain 2 payment systems. LINQ Connect is used by the district for Meal Payments and another system is used by the district for school and latchkey fee payments.
Are there instructions for meal payments? Yes! Go to the Need Help? section below, and click on a link for detailed video/instructions.
Can I make payments on my phone? Absolutely! You can use your cell phone to pay by either downloading the LINQ Connect App to your phone or by visiting LINQ Connect (click the PAY button on the right, make sure you are using Google Chrome as your browser). LINQ Connect is mobile responsive, which makes using your phone or tablet easy!
Who do I contact if I have questions about meal accounts or fee payments? If you have questions regarding meal payments and student accounts, contact Nutrition Services (our contact information is at the bottom right of this page). If you have questions regarding school, latchkey, or activity fees, please contact your child's school.
Will I have to pay a fee when I pay for meals with a LINQ Connect account? Currently, parents are not charged a fee for using LINQ Connect.
How quickly after I make a payment will it be available for my student to use? Immediately!
How do I set up, change, or cancel automatic meal payments? Go to the Need Help? section below, and click on How To Use LINQConnect Meal Accounts for detailed video/instructions.
How do I transfer my funds from one student’s account to another? You can transfer funds between accounts. Go to the Need Help? section below, and click on How To Use LINQConnect Meal Accounts for detailed video/instructions. Funds can only be transferred between students within the same school district.
How do I set spending limits on my student’s account? Go to the Need Help? section below, and click on How To Use LINQConnect Meal Accounts for detailed video/instructions.
How do I see my Transaction History? Go to the Need Help? section below, and click on How To View Transaction History for detailed video/instructions.
What credit cards/methods of payment can I use? Visa, MasterCard or Discover.
When entering my Payment Method, it asks for a “Description”— what do I put? This is a place for you to "Name" your payment method. For example, you can name it “Intrust Credit Card” or “Chase Credit Card.”
I am trying to enter my credit card information and it keeps saying “Invalid Card” or the "Confirm and Pay" button is gray—what am I doing wrong? The system will not allow you to continue if any required items are missing.
How can I receive a notification when my student’s account balance is low? The system is defaulted to send an email reminder when the balance falls below $5.00. You can change the Payment Reminder by editing the dollar amount on the Payment Reminder card on the Meal Accounts page. Go to the Need Help? section below, and click on How To Use LINQConnect Meal Accounts for detailed video/instructions.
Is there a minimum payment for student accounts? Yes. The minimum payment is $10 per transaction.
What happens to the money in my student’s account at the end of the school year? Your account balance moves with your student from grade to grade and school to school (within the district).
Why is there a “pending” charge on my bank statement after my card was declined? It is common practice in the banking industry to hold the transaction fee on online payments. The fee may temporarily appear on your bank statement, but the fee will automatically be removed in approximately 1-8 banking days. If you have any questions about this fee, please contact your credit card company directly.
Can I make a donation to the school district? Yes, it is called Feed it Forward. On the Meal Accounts page, scroll to the Feed it Forward section and select your child's school. This money will go directly to students in need at that school. Please note this is separate from your student(s) account.