All Illinois students have a right to attend school for free, but most public schools also ask students to pay fees for certain things. These might include fees for:

• Student activities
• Certain lab classes
• Field trips
• Textbooks
• Locker
• Graduation

School fees must be waived for all students whose parents are unable to afford them, including students eligible for free breakfast or lunch. This includes families without income, those who are low income, and homeless students. It also includes students whose parents are veterans or active duty military personnel with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line.

If a fee is “waived”, this means that the fee is not charged and the student will not owe money, but will still be allowed to go on the field trip, participate in graduation, use a locker, or take the science course.

It is against the law for a school or its employees to punish or discriminate against students for their inability to pay school fees.

Free lunch program for low-income students

Students who are enrolled in public and private schools in Illinois can buy school lunch. Low-income students may qualify for free or reduced-priced lunch and breakfast. Homeless students are also eligible for free breakfast and lunch, regardless of their family’s income. Contact your child’s school to request an application.

Effective 8/26/18 the Hunger-Free Students' Bill of Rights Act requires all schools to provide meal to students that ask for one. Schools cannot consider whether the student has the ability to pay for the meal or if the student owes money for past meals. When a student owes money for 5 or more meals the school can contact the parents or guardian of that student requesting payment. The school may also request the parent apply for free or reduced-priced meals. Schools may not take any action that publicly identifies or discourage students who cannot pay for a meal or owe money for past meals. 

Undocumented immigrant students can also participate in the free lunch program, even though they do not have a social security number. If you are a parent of an undocumented immigrant student, say that your child does not have a social security number on the application. Any information you give to the school will only be used to get funding for the free lunch and breakfast program.

2022-2023 School Year

Schools had some flexibility during Covid so they could serve all kids free meals. Some of those options expired so, for the 2022-2023 school year, many schools can’t serve all meals free anymore. Instead, families will do what they did before Covid. Schools will take applications and use family income to qualify kids for free, reduced-price, or paid meals. You can visit the Illinois State Board of Education Website to see the income guidelines for this upcoming school year.
 
Some schools use a program called the “Community Eligibility Provision” that helps them serve all meals free. You can contact your local school to see if they are part of that program.