Lunch Applications FAQ

Why does the calculate screen on a lunch application always say "Not Eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch" even though the income is correctly entered.

This happens when the lunch codes are not properly configured on the system. Go to Student Data.Lunch.Setup.Codes and verify that your codes look like this:

• If your codes need to be recreated or fixed click the link 'Click here to auto create or fix existing lunch code flags based on New Jersey standards' 

Can parent submit online applications through the parent portal?

YES. Please review our article on this. Watch this webinar as well.

Because of the current Covid-19 situation, parents need to reapply for Lunch Applications. How can we allow them to do this if they already submitted earlier in the year?

We added a new option for this on 3/24/20.  We added an option to allow Parents to re-apply for lunch benefits. Checking off the new option will expose a new button for parents that allows them to remove their existing lunch application in Genesis and create a new one. The old application will no longer be available in Genesis but will be archived.

The new option can be found on the Parent Access>Setup>Settings>District Settings>Lunch Application Settings screen. Check off "Allow parents to re-apply for lunch benefits. A button to re-apply will appear for parents. Old application will be archived and no longer show in Genesis if parent creates a new application" and click SAVE (at the bottom of the screen.)

Once that is checked off, these parents will see a new button within the parent portal, on the Forms tab. See example below:

Can we determine if a Lunch App was submitted through the portal vs. not through the portal?

Yes. There is a "Parent Submitted" column on the Student Data>Lunch>Applications tab.

Do lunch application numbers reset each year?

Yes.