Empower Every Learner to Thrive!
Free and Reduced Meal Application
IF APPLYING FOR THE 2025/26 SCHOOL YEAR, ONLINE APPLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE STARTING TUESDAY, AUGUST 5TH, 2025.
Free or Reduced meal benefits DO NOT rollover from year to year, you must re-apply every year. If you qualified for Free or Reduced Meal benefits during the previous school year, you will receive a 30 school day grace period. Your benefits will expire after the first 30 school days of new year, if a new application has not been received. Students will be charged full price for lunches if no application is received by the 30 day cut off. Charges will continue until the application is received, entered, and approved for benefits. These meal charges will not be reversed, and will become the parents' obligation to pay.
Applications are accepted anytime during the school year. If your household income changes at anytime during the school year and you think you may qualify for Free or Reduced Meal benefits, you can apply Online or submit a Free/Reduced application at your students school or to the Child Nutrition Dept. at the Facilities and Transportation Building, 705 S. 9th Street, Bismarck.
When students are approved for Free or Reduced meals, it covers reimbursable meals but, does not include any Ala-Carte items. Ala-carte is an additional food item that can be purchased at full price if a student has funds in their lunch account or cash to cover the cost. There is no charging allowed for Ala-carte items.
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO APPLY ONLINE WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
Applications can be submitted online starting Tuesday, August 5th, 2025:
- You MUST create an account in LINQ Connect. Please visit www.bismarckschools.org/LINQ for instructions.
- Once account is created, choose Bismarck, ND as district, select "Start Meal Application" and complete the application through your LINQ Connect account.
For questions, please contact the Child Nutrition Department at (701) 323-4090.
If submitting a paper application, note they are not processed until after August 5, 2025. But starting July 1, 2025, paper applications can be dropped off at your student's school or Facilities and Transportation building (705 South 9th St, Bismarck, ND 58504).
Mail applications to: 705 South 9th St, Bismarck, ND 58504 (Attn: BPS Child Nutrition).
Letter to Households & Income Eligibility Guidelines
New Income Guidelines for the 2025-2026 Free and Reduced Meal Application
Letter to Households 2025-2026
Click this link to print a paper copy of the 2025-2026 Free or Reduced Meal Application.