Lexington Public Schools
Food Services
Food Service Program
MEALS ARE FREE* FOR THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Welcome back students and families! We are excited to update you with the news that Massachusetts students will receive FREE school meals in School Year 2023-2024 and in all future years! Last month, Massachusetts became the 8th state to make Free School Meals for All permanent which means that breakfast and lunch will continue to be served at no cost to all students for years to come.
FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES ONLY
Please note that even though meals will be free for all, it is very important for families to still complete the Household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2023-2024 school year. You can view and complete the application here: https://www.myschoolapps.com/. Completing this form also helps our district to receive more federal funding to keep our Nutrition Program strong.
If you are interested, please consider applying for SNAP, the federal nutrition program that provides eligible residents with monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries. More SNAP information can be found at gettingsnap.org or by calling Project Bread’s Food Source Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.
It is our privilege to provide breakfast and lunch to your children, supporting them with nourishing and healthy meals to power through the school day! We can’t wait to see them in the coming weeks. Please reach out with any questions or concerns that you may have.
Best,
Whitsons Culinary Group at Lexington Public Schools
*A meal qualifies for free if it has at least THREE out of the FIVE meal components: grain, meat/meat alternative, fruits, vegetable, and dairy. One of the those three components must be a half cup of fruit or vegetable. If your child does not get all three, they will be charged a la carte for the meal. We encourage all students to grab a fruit and if they do not want it, they can place it in the Share Cooler, a mini-fridge that students can use to put food for other students to eat for free. One breakfast and one lunch are free per day per student.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES FOR NEXT SCHOOL (2023-2024)
Lexington Public Schools would like to update families with exciting news about universal free school meals. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has decided to extend free school meals for all students through the 2023-2024 school year! This means that breakfast and lunch will continue to be served at no cost to all students. No forms need to be filled out in order for your child to receive free breakfast or lunch this year.
NEW PRICING: Single milk cartons (chocolate or white) price has increased to $.75 per carton.
FOR LOW INCOME FAMILIES ONLY TO FILL OUT- 2023-2024 FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATIONS
Low Income families are encouraged to fill out a Free and Reduced Lunch Application this year even if all students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch this year. The State of MA will sometimes offer additional food benefit waivers for families who have been approved for Free or Reduced Lunch. The link to the online Free and Reduced Lunch Application is https://www.myschoolapps.com/ . You can also get this link on the Lexington Public Schools website (Parents tab/Food Services tab/Scroll down to Free and Reduced Lunch Information). Requests for a hard copy of the Free and Reduced Lunch Application should be emailed to dharvey@lexingtonma.org or call 781-861-2580 x68062. Any family who needs the Free and Reduced Lunch Application translated in their own language, please click on this USDA link at https://www.fns.usda.gov/cn/translated-applications for an application in the language chosen.
Please note that even though meals will be free for all, it is very important for low income families to still complete the household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2023-2024 school year. This allows the district to establish eligibility for possibly additional State of MA benefits and serve families most effectively.
In addition, low income families should consider applying for SNAP, the federal nutrition program that provides eligible residents with monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries. More SNAP information can be found at gettingsnap.org or by calling Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.
If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact dharvey@lexingtonma.org or by phone at 781-861-2580 x68062. If you have any questions regarding Food Service under Lexington Public Schools, please contact Kevin Silvia, General Manager of the Food Service Department at ksilvia@lexingtonma.org or call 781-861-2320 x69107. As always, the district looks forward to provide nourishing and healthy meals to all Lexington Public Schools' students so please reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
The Lexington Public Schools Food Service Program is an important component to the overall educational experience, designed to support students, staff, and the overall community by promoting lifelong healthy eating habits, encouraging a positive learning experience for students, and by providing nutritious and satisfying food in a safe and positive environment. All menu items meet National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Health Hunger Free Kids Act (HHFKA), and state nutrition guidelines and they are analyzed and approved by a Registered Dietitian (RD). In addition to the previously described areas, Lexington's Food Service program is compliant with the School Committee's Wellness Policy.
CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT POLICY
Lexington Public Schools will comply with the Civil Rights Requirements outlined in FNS Instruction 113-1 and the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding between United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service Civil Rights Division and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office for Food and Nutrition Programs. If a participant, parent/guardian, or potential participant reports a concern that involves a federally or state protected class we will inform, accept, document, and share the complaint or concern in accordance with the procedures outlined here. https://www.usda.gov/oascr/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
MASSHealth Nondiscimination information found HERE
