Adams 14 Announces Free and Reduced Price Meal Income Criteria

(COMMERCE CITY, CO – August 5, 2009) Adams 14 today announced its policy for determining the eligibility of children who may receive free and reduced price meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Local school officials will use the following size and income criteria for determining eligibility.

Application forms are being sent to all homes with a letter to parents, and must be returned to Adams 14 no later than Monday, September 14. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office in each school. “For several years, Adams 14 has provided free breakfast and lunch to any student,” says Chief Operating Officer Sandy Mutchler. “If all of our families make sure they return their forms, and our percentage of families that qualify for free meals is high, then we will be able to continue that.” Mutchler urges all families to return their applications on time to help the District provide added meal benefits to students. If the District does not receive enough applications from families, then it may have to begin charging some students for meals.
The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility and verifying data. Applications from families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program) need only to list the children’s names, respective SNAP case number, and the signature of an adult household member.

All other households that would qualify based upon income must show the names of all household members related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends), the amount of gross income each person received last month and source, and the signature of an adult household member and that adult’s social security number, or check the box if the adult does not have a social security number. The information on the application may be verified by the school or other program officials at any time during the school year.

In certain cases, foster children are also eligible for these benefits. If a family has foster children living with them and wishes to apply for meals, they should contact the school.

Applications may be submitted any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now but have a decrease in income, become unemployed, have an increase in family size, or become eligible for SNAP benefits, you may fill out an application at that time.

Each school has a copy of the complete policy which may be reviewed by any interested party.