Free and reduced lunches available

Parents and guardians can still apply for free and reduced lunches for the 2018-19 school year.

The following is the Madison-Oneida BOCES district free and reduced price meal policy for area school children.

Households that currently include children who receive the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) but who are not found during the Direct Certification Matching Process (DCMP), or households that currently receive Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) must complete an application listing the child’s name, a valid SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR case number and the signature of an adult house- holdmember. Eligibility for free meal benefits based on participation in SNAP, TANF or FDPIR is extended to all children in the household. When known to the School Food Authority, households will be notified of their children’s eligibility for free meals based on their participation in the SNAP, TANF or the FDPIR programs.

When known to the School FoodAuthority, householdswill be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals based on the individual child’s designation as Other Source Categorically Eligible, as defined by law. Children are determinedOther Source Categorically Eligible if they are Homeless, Migrant, Runaway, A foster child, or Enrolled in Head Start or an eligible pre-kindergarten program.

If children or households receive benefits underAssistance ProgramsorOther Source Categorically Eligible Programs and are not listed on the notice of eligibility and are not notified by the School FoodAuthority of their free meal benefits, the parent or guardian should contact the school or should submit an income application.

Householdswith income the same or below the amounts listed above for family sizemay be eligible for and are urged to apply for free and/or reduced price meals. One application for all children in the household should be submitted. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office in each school. Applications may be

submitted any time during the school year to William Cotter, cook-manager. Contact Cotter at 315-893-1878 ext. 110 with any questions regarding the application process.

Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the School Food Authority if they choose to decline the free meal benefits. Households may apply for benefits at any time throughout the school year. Children of parents or guardians who become unemployed or experience a financial hardship mid-year may become eligible for free and reduced price meals or free milk at any point during the school year.

The information provided on the application will be confidential and will be used for determining eligibility. The names and eligibility status of participants may also be used for the allocation of funds to federal education programs such as Title I and National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), State health or State edu- cation programs, provided the State agency or local education agency administers the programs, and for federal, State or local meanstested nutrition programs with eligibility standards comparable to the NSLP. Eligibility information may also be released to programs authorized under the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) or the Child Nutrition Act (CNA). The re- lease of information to any program or entity not specifically authorized by the NSLA will require a written consent statement fromthe parent or guardian.

The School Food Authority does, however, have the right to verify at any time during the school year the information on the application. If a parent does not give the school this information, the child/children will no longer be able to receive free or reduced price meals.

Foster children are eligible for free meal benefits. A separate application for a foster child is no longer necessary. Foster children may be listed on the application as a member of the family where they reside. Applications must include the foster child’s name and personal use income.