Free or Reduced Price School MealsSeptember 2014

USDA Food and Nutrition Service School Meal Programs

• School Breakfast Program (SBP)

• National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

• After School Snacks and Childcare programs (CACFP)

• Summer Food Service Program (Summer Meals)

• Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP)

• Special Milk Program

School Meals in Washington State

• School meal programs administered by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)

• Who participates?– 277/280 public school districts– 46 private schools– 56 residential child care institutions

School Meals: Breakfast

School Meals: Lunch

Free and Reduced Price MealsEligibility

Ways to determine eligibility:– Direct Certification, Categorical Eligibility– Income Based– Community Eligibility

Free and Reduced Price MealsEligibility

Source: http://www.k12.wa.us/ChildNutrition/Programs/NSLBP/pubdocs/DirectCertificationReferenceSheet.pdf

Free and Reduced Price MealsEligibility

• School District required to directly certify, and notify households that kids can receive FREE meals at school.– If any person in the household has a case # for Basic

Food or TANF, kids qualify.– Parents should contact School District Nutrition Services

if they qualify but their child is not offered free meals.– Will need to partially fill out the FRP application.

• Child’s name, child’s case number, signature of adult in household

Ways to Determine EligibilityIncome Based

Income Based– If not categorically eligible, fill out the FRP Meal

Application, return to school or district office• Names of household members• Amount and source of income (previous month)• Signature of an adult household member• Case #, last 4 digits of social security #, or check box

for no SSN

Application Available at: http://www.k12.wa.us/ChildNutrition/Programs/NSLBP/FreeReduced.aspx

USDA Child Nutrition Program Income Guidelines July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015

Household Size Free Eligible Annual Income Limit

(130% FPL)

Reduced Price Eligible Annual Income Limit

(185% FPL)

2 $20,449 $29,101

3 $25,727 $36,612

4 $31,005 $44,123

5 $36,283 $51,634

Ways to Determine EligibilityIncome Based

Source: http://www.k12.wa.us/ChildNutrition/USDA/pubdocs/USDAIncomeGuidelines.pdf

Ways to Determine Eligibility

Community Eligibility– Schools with 40% or more children Directly

Certified as eligible for Free Meals can provide free breakfast and lunch to all students without collecting applications.• In 2014-2015, all schools nationwide can participate• School Nutrition Services able to get reimbursed

enough to cover costs if at least 62.5% of kids are directly certified.

State of our State

# kids who qualify for FRP Meals: 476,211– 45% of all kids attending school

Community Eligibility– 56 Schools in 13 School Districts will participate

this year!

YakimaAberdeenFranklin PierceGrangerKellerLake QuinaultPalisadesSoap LakeSpokane

ToppenishUnion GapWardenWellpinitRichland

State of our State

School Meals cost to students– BREAKFAST: State funds make breakfast FREE for

all Reduced Price eligible students. • Average Price of breakfast for non FRP students:

– LUNCH: State funds make lunch FREE for all Reduced Price eligible students in K-3rd grades.• Average Price of lunch for non FRP students:

Elementary Middle School High School

$1.42 $1.54 $1.56

Elementary Middle School High School

$2.35 $2.64 $2.71

How Can We Help Kids Better Access School Meals?

• Ask Basic Food applicants if kids are getting free meals at school– If not, follow up with school district to get kids

direct certified or fill out application• Growing number of kids from families that

don’t quite qualify…

THANK YOU!

Acacia LarsonChild Nutrition Program Manager

acacial@withinreachwa.org