- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- (Trost)
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- RE: FREE OR REDUCED-PRICE MEAL PROGRAM
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- Free and reduced-price meals will continue to be
offered by San Diego City Schools to needy students under the
government's 1997-98 National School Lunch and School Breakfast
programs.
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- The regular school lunch price will be $1 in elementary
schools and $1.50 in middle schools and junior and senior high schools.
Currently, this meal will be free of charge to students whose parents
qualify under the Free Meal Monthly Gross Income Eligibility Guidelines
and for students whose parents qualify under the Reduced-Price Meal
Monthly Gross Income Eligibility Guidelines. Under a pilot program that
started last year, the normal 25-cent fee for reduced-price meals is
waived for eligible students.
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- A similar program called the Child Care Food Program is
provided for eligible children in district-operated preschools and child
development centers.
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- Federal regulations require that an application form
and federal and state approved eligibility standards be sent to all
parents with children enrolled in the district's schools.
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- To make application, a form for each student in the
household must be completed and returned to the student's school. Names
of all household members, Social Security number of the adult signing
the application (or a statement that the household member does not
possess one), total household income and the amount and source of income
received by each household member must be provided.
- The forms include a statement to be signed by parents
or guardians indicating that all information is true, and that
deliberate misrepresentation could result in prosecution under state and
criminal statutes.
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- Children whose families receive food stamps or Aid to
Families with Dependent Children are automatically eligible for free
meals. A notice of eligibility will be sent to parents. Parents who do
not want this benefit for their children must notify the school.
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- Parents who do not receive an eligibility notice by the
start of school should fill out and return an application, noting only
the child's name and food stamp or AFDC case number and signing the
form.
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- In certain cases foster children also are eligible for
free or reduced-price meals. If a family has foster children living with
them and wishes to apply for meals for the children, they should contact
the school for more information.
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- No child will be discriminated against because of his
race, color, sex, national origin, age or handicap. Information on the
application will be confidential and used only to determine eligibility
for participation in the program. It may be verified at any time during
the school year by the district's Food Services Department.
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- The school district is following the California
Eligibility Scale for Free or Reduced-Price Meals to determine qualified
applications. Children from households with incomes at or below the
following levels may be eligible for free or reduced price meals:
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- (For a copy of the "California Eligibility Scale
for Free or Reduced-Price Meals" Chart - please contact the
district's Communications Office.)
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- *If a household income increases more than $50 per
month or if a household size changes, a new application must be filed.
Such changes may change the children's eligibility to participate in the
free or reduced-price meal program. Additional forms are available at
all school offices throughout the school year.
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- Under provisions of the federal/state policy,
eligibility will be determined by school administrators at each school
site. Following receipt and processing of an application, parents or
guardians will be notified of the action taken. Parents or guardians
disagreeing with action taken may discuss the decision on an informal
basis with the school site administrator. A formal appeal of the
decision may be made by contacting the school district's food services
director, 6735 Gifford Way, San Diego 92111, or by calling 627-7328.
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- Each school and the Food Services Department office has
a copy of this policy on file for review by anyone interested.
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