Nutrition Services Information for Parents:
Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Schools: CEP is a special USDA meal option for schools with a high percentage of free lunch enrollment. For the 2026/27 school year, students at the schools listed below will receive breakfast and lunch at no charge. Please note that extras such as milk or seconds will be charged at the regular price. Families do not need to fill out an income application unless you have another student at a non-CEP school.
Online Free and Reduced Application: Will be available July 22nd. If you have other children who are students at NON-CEP schools, you will need to complete a Meal Application for the other students to qualify for Free and Reduced Priced meals. The free and reduced meal application will be available online at LPS.org. The online application is fast and secure, and takes only one to two working days to process. When you apply online and have an email address registered with LPS, you will receive an email notification as soon as your application has been processed. Families who received a letter this summer from Lincoln Public Schools Nutrition Services Department stating that their children have been Direct Certified for free or reduced meal benefits do not need to complete an application. Please make sure all the school age children in your home are included in this letter. If one or more of your children are not listed, please call the Nutrition Services office. Paper applications may take as long as ten working days to process. Nutrition Services is not responsible for lost paper applications. Free and reduced meal benefits may allow a family to receive fee waiver benefits and also Summer EBT. For Free/Reduced Questions call 402-436-1746 or email freeandreduced@lps.org
Pre-Payments: Can be made online by following the link on the LPS homepage and clicking “Buy Student Meals” or by sending payment with your student to school. Many parents enjoy the convenience of depositing money into cafeteria accounts using the online prepayment system. Registered users may add funds for all students in their family at one time using this system. Purchases may be made using either your checking account information or VISA, MasterCard or Discover credit cards (nominal transaction fees apply). Cash or check are accepted at each school. There are no convenience fees on cash and check payments made at the schools. If you choose to send cash or check with your student, please include a note indicating your student’s name and student ID number. For payment support, call 402-436-1743 or email foodzone@lps.org
Meal Charges: No student will be denied a school meal if their meal account is zero or negative. The student will be served from the regular menu and the appropriate meal price (reduced or paid) will be added to the student account. If the student’s account is zero or negative, the student may not charge a second meal, an extra entrée or any a la carte items.
Online Menus: MealViewer is the online tool LPS uses to post menus for all schools. View menus on your computer by visiting the LPS homepage and clicking on “School Menus”. Schools are listed alphabetically. Create your own profile by saving your student’s school, or simply “X” to bypass this option and go straight to the menus. Download the mobile app for menu information on the go. Search for “MealViewer to Go” in the App Store or Google Play Store.
Food Allergies or Special Diets for Medical Reasons: The “Medical Statement for Students Requiring Special Meals” is available online at LPS.org. This form must be completed, signed by a State Licensed Health Care Professional and faxed to Nutrition Services (402-436-1775) or dropped off at your child’s school. After submitting the form, please plan to send a meal with your child for up to three days so that our staff has time to order the foods necessary to accommodate your student’s diet restrictions. If you submitted a form last school year and your child’s diet has not changed, nothing further needs to be done. We will continue to provide the diet as ordered last school year. Call 402-436-1745 with questions.