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How do I manage student free-reduced lunch program status?

This article explains how admins can edit a student’s free-reduced lunch program status. Lunch program status determines the lunch prices that students are charged. In addition to affecting future lunch orders, additions and changes to lunch program status will cause retroactive updates to prior charges, if the lunch program effective date has passed. If your school district is in the state of Oklahoma, please click here.

Before getting started, it’s important to note that student lunch program history should be preserved. Therefore, if a student has an existing lunch program that is changing, the new lunch program status will be entered as an additional lunch program with a new effective date, rather than as a change to an existing lunch program.  For example, the below student had a reduced-price status from 8/11/23 through 12/7/23 and will switch to free-price status as of 12/8/23:

This will maintain the history for the student and ensure that the student is charged the correct amount for the time period that the student is designated for each lunch program status.  Additionally, it will ensure that the student is categorized correctly in reimbursement reporting. 

To view and edit free-reduced program status for a student:

  1. Go to Main > Student - Single View (beta)
  2. Search and select the student
  3. Go to General> Demographics
  4. Click to edit the Demographics section
  5. Select the student’s Lunch Program 
  6. Enter the lunch program Effective Date
  7. Select the Direct Certified indicator
  8. (Optional) Select the Assistance Source
  9. Save

To view the lunch status for your enrollment and edit free-reduced program status for a student:

  1. Go to School Main > Lunch > Student Lunch Programs
  2. (Optional) Filter your student lunch program listing
    • Select a Lunch Program to view
    • Select to view lunch programs as of a specific Effective Date
    • Select a Grade Level to view
  3. Edit a student lunch program
  4. If the student already has an existing lunch program selected, click the + button
  5. Select the student’s Lunch Program 
  6. Enter lunch program Effective Date
  7. Select the Direct Certified indicator
  8. (Optional) Select the Assistance Source
  9. Save