PUBLIC RELEASE FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS
Spanish Version

Santa Fe Public Schools today announces its policy for free and reduced price meals for children unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and /or the School Breakfast Program (SBP).  Each school and the Central Administration has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

The following household size and income criteria will be used for determining eligibility: children from households whose income is at or below the levels specified in the chart below are eligible for either free or reduced price meals.

Application forms are being sent to all homes with a letter to parents or guardians. To apply for free and reduced price meals, households should fill out the application and return it to the school. 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. Free and reduced price eligibility may be subject to release to other federal, state, and local education health, or other means tested programs. This release is limited to the Title I and National Assessment of Educational progress (NAEP) programs.

For school officials to determine eligibility, households which currently include children who receive food stamps and/or benefits under the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) must complete an application listing the child's name, Food Stamp and/or FDPIR case number, and the signature of an adult household member or provide a direct certification letter from the Department of Human Services. Children in the household with the same case number and in the same school may be included on the same application. Separate applications are required for children in the same household with different case numbers. If the family does not list a Food Stamp and/or FDPIR case number for all the children they are applying for, the application must contain all the information as required for "other households" as described below. Households receiving food stamps and/or FDPIR must list the child's name, food stamp and/or FDPIR case number and the signature and name of an adult household member. Households not receiving food stamps and/or FDPIR must list the names of all household members, social security number of the adult signing the application or the word, 'none' if the adult member does not possess one, total household income plus the amount and source of income received by each household member 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.    Under  the  provisions  of  the  free  and  reduced  price  policy, Christina Anaya:  S N A P Coordinator will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the decision with the approving official on an informal basis. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal may make a request, either orally or in writing, to  Judi Jaquez, R.D., L.D. Executive Director  for a hearing on the decision.    2600 Cerillos Road,   989-5434
 
Households that list a Food Stamp and/or FDPIR case number must report when the household no longer receives these benefits. Other households approved for benefits are required to report increases in household income of over fifty dollars ($50) per month or six-hundred dollars ($600) per year and decreases in household size. Also, 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 reduced price meals or for free meals if the households income falls at or below the levels shown in the household size and income criteria chart above.

In certain cases, foster children are, also, eligible for school meal benefits. If a household wishes to apply for benefits for foster children living with them, the household should contact the school for more information. The information provided by the household is confidential and will be used only for the purposes of determining eligibility and verifying data.

In the operation of child feeding programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), no child will be discriminated because of age, sex, color, national origin, race, or disability. If any member of a household believes he or she has been discriminated against one may immediately write to tile Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250.