Free/Reduced Lunch Policy
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MEDIA RELEASE August 9, 2008 today announced its policy for providing free or reduced price meals for children served under the National School Lunch, and/or School Breakfast Programs. Each school and/or central school nutrition office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party. The household size and income criteria identified below will be used to determine eligibility for free or reduced price meal benefits. Children from households whose income is at or below the levels shown may be eligible for either free or reduced price meals. Children who are members of food stamp households or who receive Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) may be automatically eligible for free meals. Children who are homeless, migrant, or runaway may also be automatically eligible for free meals. Foster children, who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court, may be eligible for benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside. Eligibility for the foster child is based on the child's income. Children who are members of households participating in WIC may also be eligible for free or reduced-price meals based on the household’s income.
Application forms are being distributed to all households with a letter informing households of the availability of free or reduced price meals for their children. Applications are also available at the principal's office in each school and at the central office. To apply for free or reduced price meals, households must only fill out one application per household and return it to the school division. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used for determining eligibility and verification of data. Applications may be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program officials. For school officials to determine eligibility for free or reduced price benefits, households receiving food stamps or Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) only have to list their child(ren)'s name, and food stamp or TANF case number, and an adult household member must sign the application. Households who do not list a food stamp or TANF case number, including WIC households, must list the names of all household members, the amount and frequency of the income received by each household member, and the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. If the household member does not have a social security number, the household member must indicate that a social security number is not available. The application must be signed by an adult household member in order to be approved.
Under the
provisions of the free and reduced price meal policy,
Lenora R.
Williams, Director of School Nutrition
will review applications
and determine eligibility. An application
for free or reduced price meals cannot be approved unless it is
complete. Households
dissatisfied with the ruling of the eligibility determining official
may wish to discuss the decision with the official on an informal
basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on
the decision may make a request either verbally or in writing to:
Households may apply for free or reduced price meals at any time
during the school year. If a household is not eligible now but has
a change, such as a decrease in household income, an increase in
household size, becomes unemployed or qualifies for food stamps or
TANF, the household should contact the school for an application.
Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for
benefits if the household's income falls at or below the levels
shown in the income chart. |