Free and Reduced Price School Meals, 2026–2027
Dover schools provide free and reduced price school meals to qualifying students. All information that’s shared by a parent or guardian remains private. It is not shared with teachers.
If your student participated in the free and reduced price meals program last year, you must reapply this year. The application process is annual.
This video briefly explains the program, followed by some additional information and links to help parental guardians apply. If food is a struggle, or expenses are tight, please apply for the program.
Getting Started
- You only need to submit one application for all students in your household. You do not need to apply for each student separately.
- If you applied last year and did not qualify, reapply this year. Circumstances change.
- If you receive SNAP or TANF benefits, you automatically qualify. Complete the application and claim the free and reduced price meals benefits for the students in your household.
- If you stopped receiving SNAP benefits, your students may still qualify for free and reduces price mails. It’s worth submitting an application.
- Again, your information is kept private.
Important
If your student is already receiving free or reduced price meals, they much choose the Complete Meal at lunch. Otherwise, their account will be charged for the cost of any snack item they select.
Apply for Free or Reduces Lunch
Instructions and applications are linked below. You can visit the school district’s webpage for more information about the free and reduced price meals program.
You must mail your completed application to the following address:
Dover School District, SAU Office
Attention: Bill Roy, Director of Accounting and Operations
McConnell Center
61 Locust Street, Suite 409
Dover, NH 03820-3753
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Additional Information
From the Dover school district:
All students who qualify for reduced price meals are entitled to a free breakfast each morning. Completing an application takes less than 10 minutes and application information remains private and confidential. Applications are accepted at any time during the school year. You will be notified by mail of your child’s status. Until notification you must provide your child with a lunch or lunch money.
If your child was eligible for free or reduced meals at the end of the previous school year, their eligibility will carry over up to 30 operating days into the new school year. If you do not re-apply, your child will revert to full paid status and you will be responsible for all charges incurred on their account until an application is submitted and approved.
Only complete one application per family. Information provided will be used to determine or prove your child’s eligibility for free or reduced price meals. This information may also be used for other state or federally funded school benefits.
Factors considered in the application process are household size and total household income. HOUSEHOLD SIZE is considered all persons, related or unrelated: Including parents, children, grandparents who live in your home and share living expenses. The TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME is the income each household member received last month before taxes – this includes wages, social security, pension, unemployment, welfare, child support, alimony, and any other cash income.
Foster children are categorically eligible for free meal benefits. Households must check the appropriate box to indicate the child’s status under Step 1 of the application. Foster children may be included in the household application as part of the household size.
Please contact Bill Roy at 603.516.6800 ext: 1117 with any questions regarding Free and Reduced meal applications.
