FORT WAYNE — Applications for free and reduced-price meals and textbooks for Fort Wayne Community Schools' students are now available online for the 2010-11 school year.

FWCS accepts applications throughout the year, but parents must return them by Aug. 9 to be processed in time for the first day of school Aug. 23, school officials said in a news release.

This is the first year the applications are available online at http://ftwayne.schoollunchapp.com. Paper applications also are available at all FWCS schools, the Student Services Office at 1200 S. Clinton St. and Nutrition Services at 3211 W. Ludwig Road.

To assist , A series of workshops throughout the district will take place to assist families with the new online application:
Friday, Aug. 6

• Holland Elementary School, 7000 Red Haw Drive, 8-10 a.m.
• Abbett Elementary School, 4325 Smith Road, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Forest Park Elementary School, 2004 Alabama Ave., 9 a.m.-noon
• Snider High School, 4600 Fairlawn Pass, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 9

• Wayne High School, 9100 Winchester Road, noon-5 p.m.
• Abbett Elementary School, 4325 Smith Road, noon-7 p.m.
• North Side High School, 475 E. State Blvd., 4-7 p.m.

Last year, 68 percent of FWCS students participated in the federal program, providing free lunch to 17,856 students and reduced-price lunch to 3,235 students. Regular cost for an elementary lunch is $1.45, and breakfast is $1.10; middle and high school students pay 10 cents more for each meal. Reduced meal prices are 40 cents for lunch and 30 cents for breakfast for students at every grade level.