Free and Reduced Lunch Eligibility
All students are required to have a free or reduced lunch (FRL) eligibility status. This FRL eligibility status is used to determine the allocation of funding for state and school programs and may determine access to other assistance programs (such as summer benefits) and the waiver of student fees. Given this, it is important for all schools to encourage families to complete the applicable forms that may support an FRL eligibility determination.
All schools are required to maintain documentation that supports each student’s free or reduced lunch eligibility. FRL eligibility status will be maintained in each school’s SIS and kept up to date throughout the year to ensure accurate data for state reporting.
For questions or support, please email the Data Submissions Team at submissions_CSI@csi.state.co.us.
How FRL Eligibility Is Determined
1. Federal Meal Benefit Application — For schools participating in a federal child nutrition program, the federal meal benefit application determines a student’s FRL eligibility status. CSI schools in this category participate with either the CSI School Food Authority (SFA) or another district SFA.
2. The Colorado Family Economic Data Survey (FEDS) form — Schools not participating in a federal child nutrition program use the state FEDS form to collect socioeconomic data on student households and determine FRL eligibility.
3. Other Designation — Direct certification, categorical eligibility, and extended eligibility are additional ways students may be identified as FRL eligible.
If Your School Partners With a School Food Authority (SFA):
Application/Form
The SFA establishes the process for families to complete the meal benefit application through the SFA system, each year after July 1st.
FRL Determination
The SFA determines FRL eligibility using the meal benefit application, direct certification, categorical eligibility, or extended eligibility, and then provides that determination to the school. For schools using the CSI SFA, more detail on direct certification is available on the SFA webpage and Direct Certification webpage. Categorical and extended eligibility may be identified at the school level, but must be communicated to, and confirmed by, the SFA before a student’s FRL status is updated.
Data Security
Relevant school staff must annually sign an agreement certifying their understanding of appropriate and allowable FRL data sharing. Schools using the CSI SFA sign the CSI SFA Agreement.
Document Management
Expectations for where student-level FRL documentation is maintained (school vs. SFA) may differ by SFA — ask your SFA to confirm.
SIS Update
The SFA provides FRL eligibility to the school. The school updates the status in its SIS (see Entering FRL Data in Your SIS below)
If Your School Does Not Partner With a SFA and Uses FEDS:
Application/Form
The school establishes the process for sending out and collecting the Family Economic Data Survey (FEDS), after July 1 each year.
Printable Templates
FRL Determination
School staff determine FRL eligibility using:
- FEDS school processing instructions — Determining Official Processing Instructions
- FEDS federal eligibility guidelines — Income Guidelines
- FEDS completed correctly — Example
- Direct certification matches CSI provides directly to the school
- Categorical eligibility (students identified as foster, homeless, migrant, Head Start, or runaway)
- Extended eligibility (students residing in the same household as a directly certified student)
Data Security
Relevant school staff must annually sign the General CSI School Agreement certifying their understanding of appropriate and allowable FRL data sharing.
Document Management
The school maintains student-level FRL documentation based on FEDS and extended eligibility and uploads copy to the FRL shared secure data folder . CSI maintains student-level documentation based on direct certification and categorical eligibility.
SIS Update
The school updates FRL status directly in its SIS (see Entering FRL Data in Your SIS below).
Entering FRL Data in Student Information Systems
Schools are responsible for regularly updating FRL data in their SIS. Below are SIS resources related to FRL data entry.
Infinite Campus Data Entry Training — Coming soon
PowerSchool Data Entry Training— Coming soon
Alma Data Entry Training— Coming soon