Dept. of Ed. announces school meal policy
The Iowa Department of Education, Bureau of Nutrition and Health Services, announced 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 and School Breakfast Program and the Afterschool Care Snack Program.
State and Local school officials have adopted family size and income criteria for determining eligibility, which can be viewed online at the Iowa Department of Education website educateiowa.gov.
Households may apply for free or reduced price meal benefits one of four ways. Households whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for reduced price meals or for free meals. Households may complete one application listing all children and return it to their child’s school. Most Food Assistance households and children receiving benefits under the Family Investment Program (FIP) will be qualified for free meals automatically. These households will receive a letter from their children’s schools and need to do nothing more for their children to receive free meals. Some Food Assistance and FIP households will receive a letter from DHS qualifying the children listed on the letter for free meals. Parents must take this letter to the child’s school to receive free meals. Food Assistance or FIP households receiving benefits that do not receive a letter from DHS must complete an application. Only complete applications will be approved by the school.
Foster children are eligible for free meals and some will be qualified automatically. Their host family will receive notification of these benefits and need to do nothing more. If a family having foster children living with them does not receive notification, instructions for making application are on the application form.
Special Supplement Nutri-tion Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants may be eligible for free or reduced price meals with a completed application.
Households with children who are enrolled in the Head Start/Even Start Program or the Migrant Education Pro-gram or who are considered homeless or runaway by the school district’s homeless liaison should contact the school for assistance in receiving benefits. If households are dissatisfied with the ruling of the officials, they may make a formal appeal either orally or in writing to the school’s designated hearing official. The policy statement on file at the school contains an outline of the hearing procedure. School officials may verify the information in the application and that deliberate misrepresentation of information may subject the applicant to prosecution under applicable State and Federal criminal statutes. Households should contact their local school for additional information.
Non-discrimination Statement:
“In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Indepen-dence Avenue, SW, Washing-ton, D.C. 20250-9410, or call toll free 866-632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 or 800-845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”
Iowa Non-Discrimination Notice:
“It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or religion in its programs, activities or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.7and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E. 14th St., Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; web site: http://www.state.ia.us/government/crc/index.html.”