2
Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application Application packets cannot
be distributed or signed before July 1
The application packet
provided to households must include: Letters to Parents Free and Reduced Price
School Meals Family Application
3
Processing the Application
New applications should be processed within 10 working days
Prior school year applications may be used for the first 30 operating days or until September 30, whichever comes first
Eligibility determinations are valid for the entire school year
If circumstances change, households may re-apply at any time to receive better benefits
7
Categorical Eligibility
Homeless/Migrant/Runaway
or
Food Stamps/Family Independence Program (FIP)/Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation (FDPIR)
8
Homeless/Migrant/Runaway Households Guidance on Categorical Eligibility for Runaway
Youth
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Reauthorization_Policy_04/Reauthorization_04/2004-09-17.pdf
Migrant Guidance on Categorical Eligibility
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Reauthorization_Policy_04/Reauthorization_04/2004-08-16.pdf
Categorical Eligibility for Free Lunches and Breakfasts of Runaway, Homeless, and Migrant Youth
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Reauthorization_Policy_04/Reauthorization_04/2004-07-19.pdf
12
Food Stamps/Family Independence Agency (FIP)/Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) HouseholdsPart 3
13
Food Stamps/Family Independence Agency (FIP)/Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) HouseholdsPart 5
14
Income Eligibility
A student is income eligible if the sum of the reported income for the household is at or below the Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEG)
A student may be eligible for either free or reduced-price meals
18
Annual Income Conversion
If a household reports income sources at more than one frequency, the preferred method is to annualize all income
Weekly x 52 Every 2 weeks x 26 Twice a month x 24 Monthly x 12
Do not round the values
20
Temporary Approval
Applications indicating zero or no income should be approved for 45 days
After 45 days, the household should be contacted to determine if the household’s circumstances have changed
If there is no change in circumstances, the temporary approval can be extended
22
Approval-Disapproval Letter to Households
•Households denied benefits must be given written notification of the denial
The notification must include:
•The reason for the denial of benefits
•The right to appeal
•Instruction how to appeal
•A statement that households may re-apply for free and reduced price benefits at any time during the school year
•Households must be notified of their eligibility status
23
Technology for Application Approval Local Educational Agency (LEA) is ultimately
responsible to make sure any technology used in the application approval process meets federal regulations
Scanned Income Application SP 04-2007http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2007/SP_04-2007.pdf
Commercial Software used in School Nutrition Programs SP 12-2006
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/Reissued/2006-02-09-R.pdf
24
Confidentiality/Limited Disclosure
School Food Authorities may disclose, without parent/guardian consent, participant names and eligibility status to persons directly connected with the administration or enforcement of federal education or state education programs such as Title I, MEAP, or No Child Left Behind
25
Sharing Information with Other Programs
•The attachment “Sharing Information with Other Programs” must be used when a school/district plans to use information on free or reduced price applications for purposes other than evaluating eligibility for school meals or for programs authorized by the National School Lunch Act (42 USC 1758 (b)(2)(C)(iii))
•A signature must be on file from the parent or guardian before any information can be released
26
Agreement/Memoranda of Understanding
School Food Authority (SFA) should have a written agreement with other entities requesting the free and reduced price information prior to disclosing the student’s eligibility information
27
Agreement/Memoranda of Understanding Signed by the SFA and receiving entity Identify the entity receiving the information Describe the information to be disclosed and
how it will be used Describe how the information will be
protected from unauthorized uses and disclosures
Describe the penalties for unauthorized disclosure
28
Confidentiality/Limited Disclosure Affirmation of Policy on Limited Disclosure of Children's
Eligibility Information to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Memo SP 33-2006http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Policy-Memos/2006/SP_33-2006.pdf
Eligibility Guidance for School Meals Manual Part 8-Confidentiality/Disclosure of Eligibility Information
Food Service Administrative Policy #4, SY 98-99: Parental Consent to Release Information for Free and Reduced Price School Meal Eligibility
29
Verification
•Verification Confirmation Reviews– Reauthorization 2004 Implementation Memo- SP 18
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Reauthorization_Policy_04/Reauthorization_04/2005-09-27.pdf
•A Confirmation Review must be conducted to check the accuracy of the initial eligibility determination
30
Questions???????
James Abbey [email protected] 517-373-3347
Melanie Brummeler [email protected] 517-373-3347