Dear Parent or Guardian:

Chesapeake Public Schools offers nutritious meals every school day. A student may buy breakfast for $1.00; lunch for $1.65 for elementary students and $1.75 for secondary students. Meals are also available free or at a reduced price for eligible students. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. All meals served must meet standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, if a student has been determined by a doctor to be disabled and the disability prevents the child from eating the regular school meal, the school will make any substitutions prescribed by the doctor. If a substitution is prescribed, there will be no extra charge for the meal. If your child needs substitutions because of a disability, please get in touch with us for further information.

To apply for free or reduced price meals, use the Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application, which is enclosed. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information.

Download the 2007-2008 Free and Reduced Meal Application here. [Adobe Reader is required]

Return the completed application to: the School Nutrition Services Office or your child’s school.

Here are answers to questions you may have about applying:

H1. Who can get free or reduced price meals?
§ Children who are members of food stamp households or who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are eligible for free meals regardless of income. We will notify you of your child(ren)’s eligibility and they will be provided free benefits, unless you tell the School Nutrition Services Office that you do not want benefits. If you are not notified by August 30, submit an application. The application must contain the child’s name, the food stamp or TANF number, and the signature of an adult household member.

§ Foster children who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court may also be eligible for benefits regardless of the child’s income. Eligibility for the foster child is based on the child’s income. If you are applying for a foster child who is the legal responsibility of the courts, the application must have the child’s name, the child’s “personal use” income, and the signature of an adult household member. Fill out a separate application for each foster child.

§ Children who are members of households participating in WIC may also be eligible for free or reduced-price meals based on the household’s income. If your total household income is at or below the amounts on the income chart, your child(ren) may get free meals or your child(ren) may get reduced price meals.

§ If your household income is within the limits on the Federal Income Chart, your child can get free or reduced price meals.

2. Will the information I give be checked? Yes, we may ask you to send written proof of the information any time during the school year. We ask you to send information to prove that your child(ren) should receive free or reduced price meals.

3. Is the information I send in confidential? We may use the information on the application to determine if your child is eligible to receive free or reduced price meals and to verify eligibility. As authorized by the National School Lunch Act, the school division may inform officials connected with other child nutrition, health, and education programs of the information on your application to determine benefits for those programs or for funding and/or evaluation purposes.

4. Will I qualify for other benefits? Your child(ren) may be eligible for other benefits such as the Virginia children’s health insurance program called Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) and/or Medicaid. The law allows the school division to share your free or reduced price meal eligibility information with Medicaid and FAMIS. These programs can only use the information to identify children who may be eligible free or low-cost health insurance, and to enroll them in either Medicaid or FAMIS. These agencies are not allowed to use the information from your free or reduced price meal application for any other purpose. Medicaid officials or officials with FAMIS may contact you to get more information. You are not required to allow us to share this information with Medicaid or the FAMIS program. Your decision will not affect your children's eligibility for free and reduced price meals. If you do not want your information shared please check, the appropriate box on the application.

5. What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? If you do not agree with the decision on your application or the results of verification, you may wish to discuss it with the School Nutrition Office at 547-1470. You also have the right to a fair hearing. You can request a hearing by calling or writing to: Dr. Alan Vaughan, Chesapeake Public Schools, P.O. Box 16496, Chesapeake, VA 23328
(547-1047).

6. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply again later? You may reapply for free and reduced price meals any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now but have a change, such as a decrease in household income, an increase in household size, become unemployed or get food stamps or TANF for your child(ren), fill out an application at that time.

IF YOU NEED HELP FILLING OUT THIS APPLICATION, PLEASE CONTACT BONNIE BROWN AT 547-1470 BETWEEN 8-4 MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

You will be notified when your child(ren)’s application is approved or denied. Application approval may take up to 10 days.

Sincerely,

Director of School Nutrition Services