Food Services Department

Dear Parent or Guardian:

San Diego City Schools serves nutritious meals every school day. Elementary school students may buy lunch for $1.00. Middle school, junior high and senior high school students may buy lunch for $1.50. Breakfast may be purchased for 50 cents in all schools that offer breakfast. Extra milk may be purchased for 25 cents.

Children from families whose income is at or under that shown on the scale below are eligible for meals at no charge. If your school has a breakfast program, your child would also be eligible for a breakfast meal at no charge.

To apply for free or reduced-price meals for your children, answer all questions on the attached application, sign, and return it to your school. Complete a separate application for each student. If more applications are needed, contact your school.

If your household receives FDPIR, food stamps or CalWORKs, follow the instructions in Section B of the application form. If your household does not receive FDPIR, food stamps or CalWORKs, you must list total household income received by each household member and the type of income it is (such as wages, child support, etc). The names of all household members, the schools attended by all students, the social security number of the adult signing the application (or a statement that the household member does not have a social security number), the ages of all children and the signature of an adult household member must be present in order for the school to process the application.

The information provided on the application will be confidential and will be used only to determine and verify if your children receive free or reduced-price meals. Within 10 school days of receiving your application, the school will let you know if your children are eligible. Foster children may also be eligible for these benefits regardless of household income. If you have foster children living with you and wish to apply for such meals, please complete an application for each child.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the California Department of Education’s Nutrition Services Division (NSD) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability or political beliefs. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14^th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA and the NSD are an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Students who were approved to receive free and reduced-price meals last year may continue to receive them ONLY through the first few weeks of the school year. You must send your new completed application to the school immediately so that the student's eligibility will continue after these first few weeks of the new school year.

If your application is approved, you must report when your household income goes up by more than $50 per month or when your household size gets smaller. If you list an FDPIR, CalWORKs or food stamp case number, you must tell the school when you no longer receive FDPIR, food stamps or CalWORKs. If your family's income decreases during the year or if there is an increase in your family size, please complete a new application. If loss of income during periods of unemployment causes your household income to fall within eligibility criteria, your children may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals during those times. You may apply for benefits at any time during the school year.

The information on the application may be verified by San Diego Unified School District officials any time during the school year. 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. This can be done by writing to the office of the Food Services Director at Revere Center, 6735 Gifford Way, San Diego, CA 92111-6509. The telephone number is (858) 627-7328.

Sincerely,