RE-2 Meal Eligibility Guidelines for 2014 – 2015

2014-2015 School Year – PUBLIC RELEASE

Lamar Re-2 School District today, 8/7/2014,  announced its policy for determining eligibility of children who may receive free and reduced price meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, Afterschool Care Snack Program and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Local school officials will use the following household size and income criteria for determining eligibility.

.                                   FREE MEALS         Reduced Price Meals

Family Size                    Yearly                            Yearly

1                                        $15,171                        $21,590
2                                       $20,449                      $29,101
3                                       $25,727                       $36,612
4                                       $31,005                       $44,123
5                                       $36,283                       $51,634
6                                        $41,561                       $59,145
7                                       $46,839                      $66,656
8                                        $52,117                       $74,167

For each additional family member add: $5,278  or $7,511 respectively.

Children from families whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals.  Application forms are being provided to all homes with a letter to parents. Only one application is required for all children in the household. Additional copies are available in each school. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility and verifying data.

Applications from families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits need only to list the children’s names, name of the person receiving the program benefits, respective case number, and the signature of an adult household member. Eligibility for free meals is extended to all children in the household when the application lists a case number for any household.

All other households that would qualify based upon income must show the names of all household members related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends), the amount of gross income each person receives, the frequency and source of pay, the signature of an adult household member, and the last four digits of that adult’s social security number—or check the box if the adult does not have a social security number. The information on the application may be verified by the school or other program officials at any time during the school year.

Households with children who are eligible under the Head Start/Even Start, homeless, migrant, or runaway programs should contact the school for assistance in receiving benefits. To complete an application, they must mark the relevant box to indicate their appropriate eligibility.

Under the provision of the Policy, Terri Farmer, Free & Reduced Coordinator will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with the decision, a request may be made to discuss it with the determining official. A formal appeal may be made either orally or in writing to Dave Tecklenburg, Superintendent for a hearing to appeal the decision. The policy contains an outline of the hearing procedure.

Each school has a copy of the complete policy which may be reviewed by any interested party.  Applications may be submitted any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now but have a decrease in income, become unemployed, have an increase in family size, or become eligible for SNAP or FDPIR benefits, you may fill out an application at that time.

Non-discrimination Statement: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department.

(Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or e-mail at program.intake@usda.gov.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.