County schools offer Free or Reduced Meal Program
Any parent who thinks his or her child may be eligible for the Free or Reduced Meal Program is encouraged to apply for it, said Warren County Schools school nutrition supervisor Jean Wix.
As its name suggests, the Free and Reduced Meal Program offers school meals, both breakfast and lunch, to low-income students for free or for a reduced price.
“Children who are hungry have difficulty learning,” said state Department of Education Commissioner Lana Seivers. “This is a vital program for our students across the state.”
The program is funded primarily by the federal government’s USDA School Lunch Program, which reimburses the school system a portion of every meal it serves. With the assistance, the local program can offer reduced-price breakfasts for 30 cents and reduced lunches for 40 cents.
Last school year, 47 percent of the Warren County Schools student population was enrolled in the Free or Reduced Meals program.
Wix said application forms were distributed during last week’s countywide school registration day. Anyone not receiving an application, however, can obtain one from school at any time.
Qualifying for the program are those students whose families receive food stamps, TANF (Families First) or whose total income meets the program’s guidelines. For example, children in a family of four would qualify for free meals if their household’s yearly income was equal to, or less than, $24,505. The same children would qualify for reduced meals if their household’s annual income was equal to, or less than, $34,873.
Parents can apply for the free and reduced benefits any time during the school year.
Officials note that children who receive free and reduced meals are treated the same as children who pay full price for meals.
Free and Reduced Meal Program
Income Eligibility Guidelines
Children from families whose total household income is the same or less than the amount in the free or reduced meals columns are eligible for those programs.
HOUSEHOLD SIZE FREE MEALS REDUCED PRICE MEALS
1 $12,103 $17,224
2 $16,237 $23,107
3 $20,371 $28,990
4 $24,505 $34,873
5 $28,639 $40,756
6 $32,773 $46,639
7 $36,907 $52,522
8 $41,041 $58,405
How do I use the Income Chart? Find your household size. HOUSEHOLD is all persons, including parents, children, grandparents, and all people related or unrelated who live in your home and share living expenses and/or income. TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME is the income each household member got last month, before taxes. This includes wages, social security, pension, unemployment, welfare, child support, alimony, and any other cash income. In certain cases, a foster child may get free or reduced price meals regardless of your income.