Katy ISD Meal Program Expands: Reduced-Price Meals Now Free Under Texas Grant, CEP Campuses Continue Free Meals
Relief is on the way for many Katy area families as Katy Independent School District unveils its updated meal policy for the 2025-2026 school year. These changes bring expanded access to free and reduced-price meals, ensuring more students have dependable access to healthy breakfasts and lunches without financial strain. The district is encouraging households to review eligibility guidelines and submit online applications to secure meal benefits ahead of the new school year.
Texas Grant Expands Meal Access
A major change benefiting families across Texas stems from legislation passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, which ensures that students who qualify for reduced-price meals will now receive both breakfast and lunch completely free of charge for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school years.
Lawmakers approved this change after school nutrition experts highlighted that even small meal costs—like $0.30 for breakfast or $0.40 for lunch—can be a barrier for families already struggling with food insecurity. By removing these charges, the grant aims to keep children focused on learning rather than worrying about whether they have money for school meals. In short, if a student qualifies for reduced-price meals, families will pay nothing at the checkout line.
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Free Meals Continue at CEP Campuses
Many Katy ISD campuses remain eligible under the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which allows all students on those campuses to receive free breakfast and lunch without an application.
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Elementary Schools: Bear Creek Elementary, Bethke Elementary, Cimarron Elementary, Faldyn Elementary, Franz Elementary, Golbow Elementary, Hayes Elementary, Hutsell Elementary, King Elementary, Leonard Elementary, Mayde Creek Elementary, McRoberts Elementary, Memorial Parkway Elementary, Morton Ranch Elementary, Rhoads Elementary, Schmalz Elementary, Stephens Elementary, Sundown Elementary, West Memorial Elementary, Winborn Elementary, Wolfe Elementary, Youngblood Elementary
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Junior High Schools: Cardiff Junior High, Haskett Junior High, Katy Junior High, Mayde Creek Junior High, McDonald Junior High, Memorial Parkway Junior High, Morton Ranch Junior High, West Memorial Junior High School
- High Schools and Other Campuses: Mayde Creek High School, Morton Ranch High School, Opportunity Awareness Center
How to Apply for Meal Benefits
For students attending non-CEP schools, Katy ISD encourages families to submit applications for meal benefits online through SchoolCafe.com/KatyISD. Online applications will be available starting the first week of August, and paper forms will not be distributed this year. For families without internet access, the Nutrition and Food Service Department, located at 5364 Franz Road, will assist parents Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. beginning in August.
Eligibility is based on federally approved household income levels, as well as participation in programs such as SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR. Foster children, students who are homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster automatically qualify for meal benefits. Families already approved last year remain eligible for the first 30 operating days of school while new applications are processed.
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Ensuring Students Stay Fed
Under Katy ISD’s meal charge policy, students who do not qualify for free meals and arrive at school without meal money may charge up to ten breakfasts and ten lunches. After reaching this limit, students will be offered minimal meal options until the account balance is paid. Families are encouraged to monitor their child’s meal account regularly and promptly repay any charged meals to avoid service disruptions.
Parents with questions or those wishing to decline meal benefits can contact the Katy ISD Nutrition and Food Service Department at 281-396-6240. Details on income guidelines are available at squaremeals.com, and additional district nutrition resources can be found at KatyISDFoodServices.com.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
