Application for Educational Benefits

ALL families with children enrolled in the Minneapolis Public Schools district should complete an Application for Educational Benefits each year.

Applying matters! Information provided on Applications for Educational Benefits:

• determines benefits for students and families such as no-cost meals at school, free bus cards, and discounted internet service.
• generates about $100 million in district funding each year, and qualifies schools and community sites to serve no-cost food to youth 18 and under both after-school and in the summer months.

1. Visit SchoolCafé.com and login with your username and password.
2. Click on Apply for Benefits (or Eligibility Benefits), then click on Apply.
3. Follow the instructions to complete your online application.

Additional Information

• One application needed per family each year.
• This form used to be called the “Free and Reduced Lunch” form
• The income thresholds are higher than in some programs, so many families are surprised to find they DO qualify.
• If you are certain your family does not qualify, you can check “decline benefits” without providing income information.