Free and Reduced Lunch Application

4/9/2020

SY 2020-2021

For Immediate Release
Contact:  Alysha Packard  (435) 259-2757    packarda@grandschools.org

 

MOAB, UT –  Grand County School District, today announced their policy for free and
reduced-price meals and free milk for children unable to pay the full price of meals/milk served
under the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, After School Snack,
and/or Special Milk programs. A copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party,
will be made available upon request. Grand County School District will be distributing program
information and accepting free and reduced-price applications after July 1st for 2019-2020 school
year.
The household size and income criteria used for determining eligibility this year is listed below.
Children from households whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or
reduced-price meals/free milk.
Children or households currently approved for Food Stamps (SNAP), Food Distribution Program on
Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Family Employment Program (FEP), or some Medicaid programs are
eligible for free or reduced meal or milk benefits. There are two ways the household may qualify for
free meals: 1) The LEAs will approve these children for free meals through the direct certification
process and no application is required for free meal benefits or, 2) The household may contact the
LEA and indicate the qualifying assistance program in which they participate.
Households will be notified by the LEA of their eligibility and children will be provided free meal
benefits unless the household notifies the school that it chooses to decline benefits. All children in
these households are eligible for free meal benefits and if any child(ren) was not listed on the
eligibility notice, the household should contact the school to have benefits extended to that
child(ren). If the child(ren) or household receives benefits under Assistance Programs or other
source programs and is not notified by the school of their free meal benefits, the parent or guardian
should contact their school.
Application forms or instructions to complete an online application form for those not directly
certified have been sent home including a letter to parents or guardians. To apply for free or
reduced-price meals or free milk, households should fill out the application and return it to their
school or district office. The information provided on the application will be used for the purpose
of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school or other
program officials. Children’s names, eligibility status and other information provided on the paper
application or obtained through direct certification may be disclosed to certain other Federal, State,
or local agencies as authorized by the National School Lunch Act (NSLA).
For the school officials to determine eligibility, the household must provide the following
4/9/2020
information listed on the application: names of all household members; last four digits of the Social
Security Number of the adult completing the application, or a statement that the person does not
possess one; the income received by each household member with income frequency and income
source noted; and the signature of an adult household member certifying that the information
provided is correct.
Applications may be submitted at any time during the year to the school. If a household member
becomes unemployed or if the household situation changes, the family should contact the school.
Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for free or reduced-price meals or
free milk.
Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price policy, a designated approving official at the LEA
will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent or guardian is dissatisfied with the
ruling of the official, (s)he may wish to discuss the decision on an informal basis with the approving
official. If the parent or guardian wishes to make a formal appeal, (s)he may make a request either
orally or in writing to the LEA hearing official by contacting the local school food service supervisor
for more information. The policy contains an outline of the hearingprocedure.
Foster children who are legal wards of the court or state are eligible for free meal benefits. If a
household has foster children and wishes to apply for meal benefits for such children, the
household should complete the application.
When known to the LEA, households will be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals if the
individual child is Other Source Categorically Eligible because the child is categorized as: homeless,
migrant or runaway as defined by law; or enrolled in an eligible Head Start, Even Start (pre-school
and pre-kindergarten children) as defined by law.
The information provided by the household is confidential and will be used only for purposes of
determining eligibility and verifying data, unless a wavier releasing the use of the information for
other specific programs is signed by the parent or guardian. Families directly certified will receive a
wavier release form for their signature with the notification letter. The household name and
address will be given to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) unless “No” is checked on
the back of the application.
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or
reduced-price meals. Individuals should complete an application for free and reduced-price meals
and return it to the school where the child is enrolled. The family will be notified of the child’s
eligibility.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil
rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions
participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on
race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights
activity in any program or activity conducted or funded byUSDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program
information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact
the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of
hearing or have speech
4/9/2020
disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally,
program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination
Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at:
http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter
addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To
request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or
letter to USDA by:
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil
Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
The Income Eligibility Guidelines for free and reduced-price school meals and free milk are shown
below. These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National
School Lunch Program (and Commodity School Program), School Breakfast Program, Special Milk
Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program and
are effective from July 1 through June 30 every year. The Income Eligibility Guidelines are also
located online at https://www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/income-eligibility-guidelines.

Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please contact Alysha Packard - Director of Child Nutrition Programs.

Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced price meals.  The information on your application is HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL and is not shared. The information you provide is ONLY used to determine your eligibility for Free or Reduced Price Meals, so it is very important that ALL members of your household are included on the application.

List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper, and attach it to your application.

Si habla español, visite nuestra página gratuita y reducida en español.

 

If you need a Free & Reduced Meal Application in an alternate language (other than Spanish), click HERE.

 

If you need additional help in an alternate language (other than Spanish), please contact the Moab Valley Multicultural Center.