1 Aug 2002
No Increases To Breakfast and Lunch Prices
DALLAS—Students in the Dallas Independent School District for the 2002-2003 school year may apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits, with meal applications and a letter of explanation distributed to all children on the first day of school.
To speed up the application process and improve accuracy, this year's application will be letter size and information provided by the household will be printed in blocks that will be scanned for computer imaging.
Parents with more than one child at a school will only be required to complete one form. But parents with children at different schools will be required to apply at each school.
Families will be notified of the eligibility of their children once a meal application has been processed. In some cases, households will receive letters stating their household is eligible for free meals based on "direct certification" from the state.Students in grades PreK-12 may buy breakfast for 50 cents and lunch for a dollar. Household size and income criteria will be used to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits. Those students who qualify for reduced-price meals will pay only 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. Students may elect to prepay their meals up to four weeks at a time.
Breakfast choices consist of fruit/juice, milk and one other item. Lunch choices consist of an entree, two side dishes, and milk. A variety of choices will be available daily.
Foster children who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court may also be eligible for benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside. Eligibility for the foster child is based on the child's income.
Households receiving food stamps or TANF only have to list their child's name and food stamp or TANF case number. An adult household member must sign the application.
Households that do not list a food stamp or a TANF case number must list the names of all household members, the amount and source of the income received by each household member and the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. If the adult member who signs the application does not have a social security number, that person must indicate such by checking a box marked "None." An adult household member must sign all applications.
Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, school cafeteria supervisors will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the decision with the reviewing official on an informal basis. Parents who wish to make a formal appeal for a hearing on a decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Dennis Barrett- executive manager, 8900 Old Hickory Trail, Dallas, Texas 75237.
Households that list a food stamp or TANF case number must report when the household no longer receives these benefits. Other households approved for benefits based on income information must report increases in household income of more than $50 per month or $600 per year and decreases in household size. Also, if a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits.
*See attachment of 2002-2003 Income Eligibility Guidelines.