More than Just School Lunch! Fill out the Multipurpose Family Income Form for 2021
Although lunches are free for ALL students this year (hooray!!), filling out the Multipurpose Family Income form is still crucially important. Federal, local, and private grant funding is based on the number of eligible forms SFUSD collects. Submitting the form helps provide classroom funding at your school.
Source: SFUSD Student Nutrition Services, https://www.sfusd.edu/mfif
You have probably heard from your school about the importance of filling out the Multipurpose Family Income Form or “MFIF.” This form needs to be submitted each year for every SFUSD student. Here is a link to the form if you want to do it right now!
Resources
Need help with the form? Sign up here for 1:1 assistance.
Here is a short video that shows the steps for filling out the form online.
Here are step-by-step guides in multiple languages.
Here is the SFUSD Student Nutrition Services website which has links to many of these resources in multiple languages.
Why should everyone fill out the MFIF?
Some people have heard that it is only necessary to fill out this form if you want your child to qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch. The truth is that it is important for EVERY family to fill out this form because doing so helps bring much-needed additional money and services to your child's school and to SFUSD.
Source: SFUSD Student Nutrition Services, https://www.sfusd.edu/services/health-wellness/nutrition-school-meals/apply
https://www.schoolcafe.com/
SFUSD receives funding from the state and federal governments to support the needs of low-income students. For each student who qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, our district receives thousands of additional dollars in funding. Studies show that many eligible students, in particular middle school and high school students, do not complete this form each year, leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding for SFUSD on the table. Even a small increase in eligible forms collected results in significantly more money to support our schools and students.
What is the Multipurpose Family Income Form?
This form collects basic information about your student so SFUSD can determine his or her eligibility for free or reduced-price breakfast, lunch, and also so that schools can qualify to receive extra money and programs. You may have heard this form referred to in the past as the "School Meal Application Form" or "School Lunch Form." The name has changed because it is really about more than school lunches.
What if my child doesn't want to eat school lunch? Why should I fill out the form?
Even if your child chooses to bring their own lunch, and even though all students in SFUSD now receive free lunch, filling out the form is very important! It ensures that your school gets all of the funding and benefits available to support teachers and students. Also, even if your child does not eat school lunch, students who qualify for free lunch also can receive other benefits like:
View and print flyer in multiple languages here
Fee waiver for afterschool programs
Discounts for your family on utilities and internet service
Reduced fees for SAT and ACT tests and college applications
How does filling out the Multipurpose Family Income Form help my school?
Schools may become eligible for money to fund afterschool programs.
Schools get more money in their budgets to support students.
SFUSD qualifies to receive more money per student from the state and federal government which they can pass on to schools.
Middle schools with high return rates may also help their feeder elementary schools qualify for free afterschool snacks, dinners, and on-site summer meals.
Is the Information I Submit Confidential?
The information you submit on the Multipurpose Family Income Form cannot be shared by SFUSD Student Nutrition Services.
Personal information submitted on the form is not shared with the state or federal government: only the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch is shared.
Principals and teachers are not told which students qualify for free or reduced lunch benefits.
SFUSD does not share information with other organizations that provide benefits. But if your child does qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, you may use the eligibility form provided by SFUSD to qualify for other benefits through providers like PG&E and Comcast.
If your child qualifies and chooses to eat lunch in the cafeteria, the breakfast and lunch process is the same as a student who is paying full price.
What do I need to know about “the public charge rule?”
Some families have expressed concern about the application due to the federal government’s change to the "public charge rule." SFUSD has advised us that the public charge rule will not apply to applications for the school meals program and eligible families should continue to apply to receive these important benefits. As of July the public charge rule on hold by the courts, in response to pandemic, but even if it were to be reinstated, school meals are not on the list of benefits impacted by the rule.
What if I still have questions?
If you run into any problems, you can always contact the SFUSD resource link.