M-DCPS’ Department of Food, Nutrition Announces the Free or Reduced-Price Meals Policy for Students Under the National School Lunch, Breakfast Programs

Any interested person may review a copy of the policy by contacting the

DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND NUTRITION
7042 WEST FLAGLER STREET
MIAMI, FLORIDA  33144-2703 / 786-275-0400

To apply for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch, parents or guardians are encouraged to apply electronically by accessing http://nutrition.dadeschools.net. Complete only one application per household. The information provided on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.  

Household size and income criteria will be used to determine eligibility.  These criteria can be found on the second page of this document.  Children from families whose income is at or below the levels shown may be eligible for Free or Reduced-Price Lunch.  An application cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information. Once approved, meal benefits are good for an entire year. You need not notify the district of changes in income and household size.

Households that receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) or TANF (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families) are required to list the current case number and the adult household member must sign the application. Skip section 3 on the application. Free meal benefits will be extended to all children in a household when the application lists a SNAP/TANF number.

Foster children will receive free meal benefits regardless of the child’s personal income or the income of the household where they reside and may be included as a member of the foster family if the foster family chooses to also apply for benefits. If the foster family is not eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, it does not prevent a foster child from receiving free meal benefits.

Households with children who are considered migrants, homeless, or runaway should contact the district liaison, at 305- 995-7318 for Homeless/Runaways status confirmation or 305-258-4115 for Migrant status confirmation.

For the purpose of determining household size, deployed service members are considered a part of the household. Families should include the names of the deployed service members on their application. Report only that portion of the deployed service member’s income made available to them or on their behalf to the family. Additionally, a housing allowance that is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative is not to be included as income.

All other households must provide the following information listed on the application:

·    Names of all students in household – provide their student ID number, date of birth, name of school they attend and  if applicable, check the box indicating they are a Foster Child or  a Homeless, Migrant, Runaway or Head Start Student

·    Names of all household members –if applicable provide household member’s income

·   Total household income listed by gross amount received, type of income (e.g., wages, child support, etc.) and how often the income is received by each household member (in whole dollars)  

·    Signature of an adult household member certifying the information provided is correct

·    Last four digits of the social security number of the adult signing the application. If this household member does not have a social security number, the word “NONE” should be written or an X must be placed in the box “No SSN”.

If you are not eligible now but have a decrease in household income, become unemployed, have an increase in family size, or become eligible for SNAP, TANF or FDPIR benefits, you may complete an application at that time.  Such changes may make the student eligible for reduced-price or free lunch if the household income falls at or below the levels shown below. 

All lunch payment musts be made online at www.PayPams.com. Breakfast is served to students in all Miami Dade County Public Schools daily at no charge.  Elementary school lunch is $2.25.  Middle and high school lunch is $2.50.  Reduced-price lunch costs 40 cents. Each school must have a plan for providing lunch to students without lunch money. 

Under the provision of the Free and Reduced-Price meal policy the Food and Nutrition Officer or designee 786-275-0400 will review applications and determine eligibility.  If a parent or guardian is dissatisfied with the ruling of the official, he or she may wish to discuss the decision with staff at the District Office 786-275-0400 ext. 5000 on an informal basis.  If the parent wishes to make a formal appeal, he or she may make a request either orally or in writing to the Director of Operations at 786-275-0426.

FLORIDA INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
FOR FREE AND
REDUCED-PRICE MEALS

Effective from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021

 To determine annual income:

·         If you receive the income every week, multiply the total gross income by 52.

·         If you receive the income every two weeks, multiply the total gross income by 26.

·         If you receive the income twice a month, multiply the total gross income by 24.

·         If you receive the income monthly, multiply the total gross income by 12.

Remember:  The total income before taxes, social security, health benefits, union dues, or other deductions must be reported.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To ?le a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD3027)  found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_?ling_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or 

write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

mail:           U.S. Department of Agriculture

                  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 
                  1400 Independence Avenue, SW 
                  Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

fax:             (202) 690-7442; or

email:         program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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