For immediate release
September 19, 2006 |
Contact: Adolfo Pando,
(408) 453-6687 |
Policy Announced for Providing Free and
Reduced-price Meals
The Santa Clara County Office of Education, Head Start Program and sites today
announced the policy for providing free and reduced-price meals to eligible
children under the State Meal Program. Each school and/or the central 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, 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 Food Stamp (FS),
California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), Kinship
Guardianship Assistance Payments (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 is based on a separate application and solely on the amount of
the child's "personal use" income.
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 principal's office in each
school. To apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits, households must
complete an application and return it to the school 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.
Requirements for school officials to determine eligibility for free and
reduced-price benefits are as follows: For households receiving Food Stamp,
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 signature and corresponding Social
Security number of an adult household member. 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’s school(s)
for specific information regarding the name of the determining official and/or
hearing official for a specific school, agency, or district.
INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
(Effective from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007)
|
|
FREE
ELIGIBILITY SCALE
LUNCH, BREAKFAST, MILK |
REDUCED-PRICE
ELIGIBILITY SCALE
LUNCH, BREAKFAST |
|
Household Size |
Year |
Month |
Twice per Month |
Every Two Weeks |
Week |
Year |
Month |
Twice per Month |
Every Two Weeks |
Week |
|
1 |
$ 12,740 |
$ 1,062 |
$ 531 |
$ 490 |
$ 245 |
$ 18,130 |
$ 1,511 |
$ 756 |
$ 698 |
$ 349 |
|
2 |
17,160 |
1,430 |
715 |
660 |
330 |
24,420 |
2,035 |
1,018 |
940 |
470 |
|
3 |
21,580 |
1,799 |
900 |
830 |
415 |
30,710 |
2,560 |
1,280 |
1,182 |
591 |
|
4 |
26,000 |
2,167 |
1,084 |
1,000 |
500 |
37,000 |
3,084 |
1,542 |
1,424 |
712 |
|
5 |
30,420 |
2,535 |
1,268 |
1,170 |
585 |
43,290 |
3,608 |
1,804 |
1,665 |
833 |
|
6 |
34,840 |
2,904 |
1,452 |
1,340 |
670 |
49,580 |
4,132 |
2,066 |
1,907 |
954 |
|
7 |
39,260 |
3,272 |
1,636 |
1,510 |
755 |
55,870 |
4,656 |
2,328 |
2,149 |
1,075 |
|
8 |
43,680 |
3,640 |
1,820 |
1,680 |
840 |
62,160 |
5,180 |
2,590 |
2,391 |
1,196 |
|
For each additional family member, add: |
|
|
$ 4,420 |
$ 369 |
$ 185 |
$ 170 |
$ 85 |
$ 6,290 |
$ 525 |
$ 263 |
$ 242 |
$ 121 |
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 Food Stamp, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP, 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
Food Stamp, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP, 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 Kin-GAP benefits. School officials will notify households
of their eligibility, but those who do not want their child(ren) to receive free
meals must contact the school. Food Stamp, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP, and FDPIR
households should complete an application if they are not notified of their
eligibility by November 15, 2006)
Date last updated: September 19, 2006
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