FCPS Announces Policy for Providing Free and Reduced-Price Meals

IMAGES: USDA photo; FCPS chart shows eligibility guidelines (click on chart to enlarge).

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Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has announced its policy for providing free or reduced-price meals for children served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

Each school and central school nutrition office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any parent or citizen. Household size and income are used to determine eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits. Children from households whose income is at or below the federal income eligibility guidelines, shown in the chart above, may be eligible for either free or reduced-price meals.

In addition to the income guidelines, the following are also qualification for receiving either free or reduced-price meals:

• Children who are members of households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program)
• Children 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, are eligible for free meals regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside.
• 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

Application forms are being distributed to all households with a letter explaining the availability of free or reduced-price meals. 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 SNAP benefits or TANF only have to list their child(ren)‘s name and SNAP or TANF case number and an adult household member must sign the application. Households that do not list a SNAP 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 last four digits of 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, Greg Rupert, Coordinator in the FCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services, will review applications and determine eligibility. An application for free or reduced-price meals cannot be approved unless it is complete.

Appealing decisions

Households dissatisfied with the ruling 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: Rodney Taylor, Director, 6840 Industrial Road, Springfield, VA 22151, 703-813-4800.

Applications taken year-round

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, a member becomes unemployed or qualifies for SNAP 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 federal income eligibility guidelines.

Households that receive SNAP benefits or TANF may not have to complete an application for free or reduced-price student meals. School officials will determine eligibility for free meals based on documentation, obtained directly from the Virginia Department of Social Services, that a child is a member of a household currently receiving SNAP or TANF.

School officials will notify these households in writing of their eligibility. Households that are notified of eligibility, but do not want their children to receive free meals, must contact the school. SNAP and TANF households must complete an application if they are not notified in writing of their automatic eligibility within the first 10 days of the new school year.