Miami-Dade County Public Schools is required by Federal law to publicize the information listed below.

Announces its policy for Free and Reduced-Price Meals for students under the

NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST PROGRAMS.

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

Application forms are being sent to all homes with a letter to parents or guardians.  To apply for Free or Reduced-Price Meals, households must complete the application and return it to the school where your youngest child attends. Complete only one application per household. Additional copies are available at the main office of each school in Spanish, English and Creole.  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. Households may also apply for free/reduced-priced meals electronically by accessing http://nutrition.dadeschools.net .

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 Meals.  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 on the application the name and case number of the person who receives benefits. Skip sections 2, 4, 6 & 7 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 meals, it does not prevent a foster child from receiving free meal benefits.

Households with children who are considered migrants, homeless, or runaways should contact the district liaison, at (305) 995-7318 for Homeless/Runaway 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:

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 meals if the household income falls at or below the levels shown below.

Students may pre-pay for lunch online at www.PayPams.com, or in the school cafeteria with a check or cash.  Information on PayPams will be sent home along with the free/reduced-price meal application on the first day of school.  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.

Under the provision of the Free and Reduced-Price meal policy the Administrative Director 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) 275-0469.

FLORIDA INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES
FOR FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS

Effective from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014

To determine annual income:

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

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or if all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (in Spanish).

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Rev. 7.26.13

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13-JS/177

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