Public Information - Press Release

 

Students in the Garden Grove Unified School District may benefit from free or reduced price school meals if their families meet eligibility requirements of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency that administers federal student nutrition programs, establishes qualifying guidelines based on household size and gross annual household income. Children in a household of four, as an example, are eligible for free school meals if the annual household income does not exceed $23,920. Students in the same sized household would be eligible for reduced price meals if the annual income is between $23,921 and $34,040.

Applications will be distributed to all students in September, and additional forms will be available in school offices. Completed applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

To apply for free or reduced-price meals, a signed application must be returned to the school with the names of all household members, the amount and source of income received by each household member, the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application, or it must be indicated that no Social Security number is available.

Children from households receiving food stamps or CalWORKs benefits are eligible for free or reduced price meals. An application needs only to include the names of all eligible children, the food stamp or CalWORK's case number, and the name and signature of an adult household member.

The district will review applications to determine eligibility; and the parents may contact the food services office, 663-6155, if they have any questions regarding the decision.

Requests for a formal appeal of any decision may be made to Karen Papilli, director of food services, 10331 Stanford Avenue, Garden Grove, CA 92840 (663-6155). The free and reduced price meal policy, available for review at all schools and the district food services office, describes the appeal procedure.

Foster children are also eligible for free and reduced price meals under certain circumstances. The school should be contacted if the household with foster children wishes to apply for benefits.

In the operation of the program, no student will be subject to discrimination because of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability. If members of a household believe they have been subjected to discriminatory practices, they may write to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964.

The National School Lunch Program is offered at all district schools, and the National School Breakfast Program is available at 39 elementary schools, nine intermediate schools, and six high schools.

PR #02-190

 

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