TD3 Schools Now Offer FREE Meals to Students

Tempe Elementary School District is thrilled to announce a major development to its meal program through the expansion of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program.

Effective immediately, all elementary, K-8, and middle school sites within the district will provide FREE breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students every school day.

This exciting update means that all students at any of the District's 22 schools serving breakfast and lunch will receive one breakfast meal and one lunch meal each day at no cost. One of the most significant aspects of this change is that household applications for free and reduced-priced meals will no longer be required for students to enjoy these meals at school.

Director of Nutrition Services Janay Watts is grateful for the opportunity to support students and their families with this development.

"We are thrilled our families will no longer have to worry about the cost of meals,” she said. “We know that providing students with healthy meals is key to ensuring that they are prepared and ready to learn. With the expansion of the CEP program, Nutrition Services can keep the focus on providing our students with delicious and high-quality meals."

While this update ensures that families will not accumulate school meal debt moving forward, parents or guardians who accrued school meal debt prior to February 1, 2024, will still be responsible for payment. Families with a school meal debt balance will continue to receive phone calls and text alerts as reminders.

For families who have purchased school meals in February 2024, all costs will be reimbursed. To learn more about how to request a refund from your student’s LINQ Connect account, pay off your meal debt, or donate to help other Tempe Elementary School District families pay off their meal debt, please visit the refunds, transfers, and donations webpage.

The District is excited about the opportunity to provide students with nutritious and delicious meals at school, and looks forward to serving them.

About Tempe Elementary Nutrition Services
Tempe Elementary Nutrition Services is proud to support your child's education by offering nutritious and delicious meals to students each and every day. Breakfast and lunch menus are available at on our website. Learn more about Nutrition Services.