August 12, 1999

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (David Smollar) FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEAL PROGRAMS IN CITY SCHOOLS Free and reduced-price meals are offered by San Diego City Schools to needy students under the federal government’s 1999-2000 National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. The regular school lunch price will be $1 in elementary schools and $1.50 in middle schools, junior and senior high schools. 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. A similar program called the Child Care Food Program is provided for eligible children in district-operated preschools and child development centers. Federal regulations require that an application form and federal and state approved eligibility standards be sent to all parents with children enrolled in City Schools. To apply, a form for each student in a household must be completed and returned to a student’s school. The completed form must contain the names of all household members, the Social Security number of the adult signing the application (or a statement that the adult does not have a SSN), total household income, and amount and source of income received by each household member. The form includes a statement to be signed by parents or guardians indicating that all information is true. Deliberate misinterpretation could result in prosecution under state and criminal statutes. Children whose families receive food stamps or California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) benefits are automatically eligible for free meals and a notice of eligibility will be sent to parents. Parents who do not want this benefit for their children must notify the school. Parents who do not receive an eligibility notice by the beginning of school should fill out and return an application, filling in only the child’s name and food stamp or CalWORKs case number and signing the form. In certain cases foster children are also eligible for free or reduced price meals. If a family has foster children and wishes to apply for meals, it should contact the school for detailed information.  No child will be discriminated against because of race, color, gender, national origin, age, disability or political beliefs. Information on an application will be confidential and used only to determine eligibility for participation in a program. It may be verified at any time during the school year by the district’s Food Services Department. The school district is following the California Eligibility Scale for Free or Reduced Price Meals to determine qualified applicants. Children from household with incomes at or below the following levels may be eligible for free or reduced price meals: INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES July 1, 1999 – June 30, 2000 Household Size Weekly Monthly Annually *1 $294 $1,271 $15,244 2 $394 $1,706 $20,461 3 $494 $2,140 $25,678 4 $595 $2,575 $30,895 5 $695 $3,010 $36,112 6 $795 $3,445 $41,329 7 $896 $3,879 $46,546 8 $996 $4,314 $51,763 For each additional household member add: +$101 +$435 +$5,217 *A household of one means a foster child, an institutionalized child, or a pupil who is his/her sole support. 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. If you do not agree with the school’s decision on your application, or the result of verification, you have a right to a fair hearing. A formal appeal of the decision may be made by contacting the school district’s food services director, 6735 Gifford Way, San Diego 92111-6509, or by calling (858) 627-7328. Additional information on the general program is also available by calling (858) 627-7328.