Dear Parent/Guardian:

Children need healthy meals to learn. Edmond Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.20 at elementary schools, and $1.35 at secondary schools. Lunch costs $2.05 at elementary schools, and $2.30 at secondary schools. Your children may qualify for free meals or reduced price meals. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch.

There is a form on the back of the application that gives you the opportunity to receive local services based on your child’s eligibility for the meal program. You must complete the information on the back of the application for your child to receive any services from local programs such as the UCO Christmas Party, etc.

If your child was eligible for meal benefits last year, you must complete a new application for this school year.  If your child may be eligible for benefits, but does not intend to participate in the lunch or breakfast programs, we ask that you complete and return an application.  Edmond Public Schools receive financial assistance from various state and federal programs based on the number of eligible students that are enrolled in the district.  All information is kept confidential as required by federal regulations.

1. Do I need to fill out an application for each child?  No. Complete the application to apply for free or reduced price meals. Use one Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to: School Principal’s Office.

2. Who can get free meals? Children in households getting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and most foster children can get free meals regardless of your income.  Also, your children can get free meals if your household income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.

3. Can homeless, runaway and migrant children get free meals?  Please call Rebecca Davis at 340-2294 to see if your children qualify, if you have not been informed that they will get free meals.

4. Who can get reduced price meals? Your children can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Chart, shown on the back of this letter.

5. Should I fill out an application if I got a letter this school year saying my children are approved for free or reduced price meals? Please read your letter carefully and follow the instructions. Call the Child Nutrition Office at 340-2845 if you have questions.

6. I get Women, Infants and Children (WIC). Can my children get free meals? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Please fill out an application.

7. Will the information I give be checked? Yes, we may ask you to send written proof.

8. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start getting SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR benefits. If you lose your job, your children may be able to get free or reduced price meals.

9. What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Bret Towne, 1001 W. Danforth Rd., Edmond, OK, 73003, Telephone number: 340-2942.

10. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your children do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced price meals.

11. Who should I include as members of my household? You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends). You must include yourself and all children who live with you.

12. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. For example, if you normally get $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1000 per month.  If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get it only sometimes.

13. We are in the military; do we include our housing allowance as income? If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. All other allowances must be included in your gross income.

If you have other questions or need help, call 340-2845.

Sincerely,

Shelly Fox, Child Nutrition Supervisor