Before you begin…
there are a few things you should know.
If you received a letter from the school saying that your children were automatically approved (directly certified) for free meals for the 2022–2023 school year because someone in your household participates in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) then you do not need to submit an application.
We need only one application for all the children in your household that attend school at Philips Academy Charter School of Paterson.
Eligibility for free or reduced price school meal benefits is based on any one of these three things:
your total household income and size in the month the application is filled out, or the month before, or
your child’s individual status as foster, homeless, migrant or runaway, or
participation in an assistance program by any member of your household
Your US citizenship or immigration status does not affect your eligibility for free and reduced price benefits.
If you have questions at any point during the application, click the question mark icon to get help with the current section.
Things you'll need
Lastly, we compiled a list of the information you might need to complete the application. Check it out!