Frequently Asked Questions

No. Completing a meal application is not required. However, families are encouraged to apply because your child may qualify for Free or Reduced-Price meals based on household income or other eligibility criteria.

If you do not submit an application and your child is not directly certified for meal benefits, your child will be considered Paid and will be charged the full price for meals.

Yes. A new meal application must be submitted for each school year. Eligibility from a previous school year does not automatically continue for the entire new school year.

Even if your household qualified for Free or Reduced-Price meals last year, you should submit a new application for the current school year.

No. You only need to submit one meal application per household for children attending Hudson County Schools of Technology.

Be sure to include all students in your household on the application.

Other school districts DO NOT share their meal application with Hudson County Schools of Technology due to privacy reasons.  Please ensure you submit a meal application for HCST and to your other children's school.

Free or Reduced-Price eligibility from the previous school year may temporarily carry over into the beginning of the new school year.

This carryover period is temporary. A new application must be submitted and approved for benefits to continue for the remainder of the school year, unless your child is otherwise directly certified for benefits.

Families are encouraged to submit their new application as early as possible to prevent an interruption in meal benefits.

You may submit a new meal application at any time during the school year if your household circumstances change.

For example, you may reapply if your household income decreases, someone in the household loses a job, your household size increases, or your household begins receiving qualifying assistance benefits.

After your meal application has been processed, you will receive notification of your child's eligibility determination.

Your child will be classified as Free, Reduced-Price, or Paid based on the information provided and applicable program eligibility requirements.

Families can use the Check Meal Eligibility option on the HCST Food Services website to view their child's current meal eligibility information and access an eligibility letter when available.

If you need assistance obtaining a copy, contact HCST Food Services.

Meal applications are reviewed as quickly as possible after they are received. Please make sure your application is complete and accurate, as missing information may delay processing.

Until you receive notification that your child's eligibility has changed, please continue to follow your child's current meal eligibility status.

Free or Reduced-Price eligibility applies to qualifying reimbursable school meals, such as breakfast and lunch.

Students must select the required components of a complete reimbursable meal for the meal benefit to apply.

Meal benefits generally do not cover à la carte items, snacks, extra entrées, additional beverages, or other items purchased separately.

Students use their HCST Student ID at the cafeteria register. The cashier scans the barcode on the student's ID to access the student's cafeteria account and applicable meal eligibility.

Students with funds in their cafeteria account may also use their account balance for eligible purchases.

Yes. Students should bring their HCST Student ID with them when purchasing food in the cafeteria. The barcode allows cafeteria staff to quickly access the student's account.

Students should not share their ID with another student.

If your child forgets their Student ID, they should let the cafeteria staff know at the register. Staff can assist the student with accessing their cafeteria account.

Students should still make every effort to bring their Student ID each day.

Yes. Students receiving Free or Reduced-Price meal benefits may purchase snacks and other à la carte items if they have sufficient funds available in their cafeteria account.

Free or Reduced-Price meal benefits apply to qualifying reimbursable meals and do not automatically cover snacks or other à la carte purchases.

À la carte items are food or beverages sold separately from a complete reimbursable school meal.

Examples may include snacks, chips, ice cream, coffee, additional beverages, extra entrées, or other individual items offered for sale.

À la carte purchases are charged separately to the student's cafeteria account regardless of the student's Free, Reduced-Price, or Paid meal eligibility.

Parents and guardians can add money to their child's cafeteria account through MySchoolBucks.

Log in to your MySchoolBucks account, select your student, and follow the instructions to add funds. Please make sure your student is correctly linked to your account before submitting a payment.

No.  There are no convenience fees to use MySchoolBucks.

Log in to your MySchoolBucks account and select your student to view available cafeteria account and purchase information.

The information displayed may include purchases, payments, and the student's current cafeteria account balance.

Unused cafeteria account funds generally remain associated with the student's account while the student continues to attend HCST.

If your child is leaving HCST or graduating and has money remaining in the account, you may request a refund or an eligible transfer of the remaining balance.

If your child has an unused balance in their cafeteria account and they are transferring out of HCST, you may submit a Cafeteria Account Refund Request.

Yes, you can complete the transfer in MySchoolBucks.

If your child graduates with money remaining in their cafeteria account, the remaining balance should not be assumed to be automatically refunded.

Parents/guardians should submit a Cafeteria Account Refund Request or, when applicable, request that eligible funds be transferred to another student in the household who continues to attend HCST.