FOR FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS
IN THE NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH AND
SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAMS
Rowland Unified School District today announced its policy for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Each school and the District Office have 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, reduced-price, or full-price meal benefits. Children from households whose income is at or below the levels shown here are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Children who receive CalFresh, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), Kin-GAP or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits are automatically eligible for free meals regardless of the income of the household in which they reside. Eligibility for a foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household are eligible for free meals.
Income Eligibility Guidelines
July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012
|
| freeeligibility scalelunch, breakfast, milk | reduced-priceeligibility scaleLUNCH, BREAKFAST | ||||||||
| household size | year | month | twice per month | every two weeks | week | year | month | twice per month | every two weeks | week |
| 1 | $ 14,157 | $ 1,180 | $ 590 | $ 545 | $ 273 | $ 20,147 | $ 1,679 | $ 840 | $ 775 | $ 388 |
| 2 | 19,123 | 1,594 | 797 | 736 | 368 | 27,214 | 2,268 | 1,134 | 1,047 | 524 |
| 3 | 24,089 | 2,008 | 1,004 | 927 | 464 | 34,281 | 2,857 | 1,429 | 1,319 | 660 |
| 4 | 29,055 | 2,422 | 1,211 | 1,118 | 559 | 41,348 | 3,446 | 1,723 | 1,591 | 796 |
| 5 | 34,021 | 2,836 | 1,418 | 1,309 | 655 | 48,415 | 4,035 | 2,018 | 1,863 | 932 |
| 6 | 38,987 | 3,249 | 1,625 | 1,500 | 750 | 55,482 | 4,624 | 2,312 | 2,134 | 1,067 |
| 7 | 43,953 | 3,663 | 1,832 | 1,691 | 846 | 62,549 | 5,213 | 2,607 | 2,406 | 1,203 |
| 8 | 48,919 | 4,077 | 2,039 | 1,882 | 941 | 69,616 | 5,802 | 2,901 | 2,678 | 1,339 |
| For each additional family member, add: | ||||||||||
|
| $ 4,966 | $ 414 | $ 207 | $ 191 | $ 96 | $ 7,067 | $ 589 | $ 295 | $ 272 | $ 136 |
Application forms are being distributed to all households with a letter informing them of the availability of free and reduced-price meals for enrolled children. Applications are also available at the school office. To apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits, households must complete an application and return it to a school or the District Office for processing. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used to determine meal eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school or program officials. For further questions, call the Food Services Department at (626)854-8314.
Requirements for school officials to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits are as follows: For households receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP or FDPIR benefits – applications need only include the enrolled child(ren)'s name, Food Stamp, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP or FDPIR case number, and the signature of an adult household member. For households who do not list a Food Stamp, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP or FDPIR case number, the application must include the names of all household members, the amount and source of the income received by each household member, and the last four digits of the signing adult’s Social Security number. If the household member who signs the application does not have a Social Security number, the household member must indicate on the application that a Social Security number is not available.
Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, the determining official(s), as designated by the sponsor/agency, shall review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the eligibility ruling may discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. Parents may also make a formal request for an appeal hearing of the decision and may do so orally or in writing with the sponsor/agency’s hearing official. Parents or guardians should contact their child(ren)’s school(s) for specific information regarding the name of the determining official and/or hearing official for a specific school, agency, or district.
If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household's income falls at or below the levels shown above.
Households that receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, KinGAP or FDPIR benefits may not have to complete an Application for Free or Reduced-Price Meals or Free Milk. School officials will determine eligibility for free meals based on documentation obtained directly from the CalWORKs, CalFresh, or FDPIR office that a child is a member of a household currently receiving Food Stamp or FDPIR benefits or an assistance unit receiving CalWORKs or CalFresh benefits. School officials will notify households of their eligibility, but those who do not want their child(ren) to receive free meals must contact Food Services. CalWORKs, CalFresh and FDPIR households should complete an application if they are not notified of their eligibility by September 1.