Nutrition Services

Free meals at school in 2022-23

New process replaces free and reduced-price meal application

While meals for TPS students are free again this year, we will ask most families to fill out Household Information Surveys that collect data to support supplemental education programs. This replaces the Free and Reduced-Price Meal Application process. 

How can families access the Household Information Survey?

• Students who receive state benefits such as through the SNAP program may not need to fill out a form. Families who are “directly certified,” or otherwise identified as eligible for benefits, will soon receive an email or letter from the district confirming this and do not need to fill out the survey.
   
• Families who are not directly certified will soon get an email from the TPS Nutrition Services Department with a link to fill out the Household Information Survey. 
  • All kindergarten students will receive a paper survey from their school in September.
     
• If you don’t receive this survey or a letter confirming your certification by the end of September, please contact your school’s office coordinator or Patsy Neas, pneas@tacoma.k12.wa.us or 253-571-3378.

Do you need a letter to qualify for low-income benefits and discounts?
If you need a qualifications letter for services such as free ASB cards or discounts on certain services, contact Patsy Neas at pneas@tacoma.k12.wa.us or 253-571-3378. 

More information 
Get more information here. 

Pandemic EBT

Many Tacoma Public Schools families have recently received or will receive a summer pandemic EBT card in the mail, thanks to a federal school meal funding option for which our school district is eligible.

P-EBT benefits can be used like a debit card to buy food in most grocery stores and farmers markets, or to buy food online at Amazon, Walmart and Safeway/Albertsons. Learn more at DOH SNAP Market Match.  

Eligible families get their benefits on a P-EBT card in the mail automatically, or their benefits are automatically added to their existing card.

Questions about P-EBT cards? Wondering if you're eligible or if your card will have new benefits added? Get that information at www.dshs.wa.gov/pebt or call the P-EBT Contact Center at 1-833-518-0282 with questions. (Please note: TPS does not send P-EBT cards; the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services sends the cards). 

Student special dietary accommodations

If your student has special dietary accommodations that your school does not already know about, please contact your school nurse – even if you don’t plan to have your student take school meals. Schools can make some meal accommodations for students with special dietary needs; ask your child’s health care provider to complete this form and submit it to your school nurse.  The school nurse will submit your completed form to Nutrition Services for approval and coordination of accommodations with kitchen staff. Learn more about special dietary accommodations on the the OSPI website.

Tacoma public schools Request for Special Dietary Accommodations Form

For questions regarding your student(s) completed and submitted special dietary accommodation form, please contact Nutrition Services:

Phone: 253-571-3370
Fax: 253-571-3377
Email:  nutritionservices@tacoma.k12.wa.us

USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at  800-877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (link is external), from any USDA office, by calling 866-632-9992 or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture 
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW 
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

Fax: 833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442; or

Email: USDA Program Intake (link is external)

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.