EFC-R Free Food Service

FREE FOOD SERVICE

The Wayland Schools shall take part as feasible in the National School Lunch, Milk Program, and other food programs which may become available, in order to assure that all children in the schools receive proper nourishment.

In accordance with the guidelines for participation in these various programs, and in accordance with the wishes of the Committee, no child whom a teacher believes is improperly nourished shall be denied a free lunch, or other food, simply because proper application has not been received from his parents or guardian.

The administration shall establish rules, regulations, and procedures which conform to state and federal (or other) requirements regarding participation in programs for free and reduced-price meals and supplementary food. Such regulations shall be reported to the Committee for its official approval.

Summary of State/Federal Regulations

State regulations for participation in the National School Lunch Program include:

1. Following the established criteria for determining eligibility.

2. Naming one staff member within each school as the official to determine eligibility.

3. Making applications for free or reduced-price meals available to parents, interested community groups, and agencies; and initiating applications for children when this need has not been met by parents or others.

4. Providing parents or others with means of appeal when an application has been denied.

5. Conducting appeal hearings in the manner set forth by state regulations.

6. Using one of the methods recommended by the State Department of Education for collecting lunch payments from all paying students, in order to protect the anonymity of the students receiving a free or reduced-price meal.

7. Protecting from public view and announcement the names of students who are receiving, or who have applied for, free or reduced-price meals.

8. Publicly announcing, however, the availability of, and general eligibility requirements for, the free/reduced-price lunch program by September 15 of each school year, along with the procedure of making application.

9. Informing all local governmental welfare and other major charitable agencies of the applicable state regulations and local procedures.

10. Submitting to the Food Program Administration of the State Department of Education all reports and exhibits specified in the regulations.

Amendment

A. The Wayland Public Schools serve reduced-price meals.

B. Meals will be served at a reduced price to children from families whose gross income falls within that listed in the Maximum Gross Income Standards for Reduced Price Meals.

C. A statement will be included in the parental letter and news release that children with parents or guardians who become unemployed are eligible for free or reduced-price meals and free milk provided that the loss of income causes the family income during the period of unemployment to fall within the eligibility criteria.

D. A statement will be included in the ‘Public Announcement” and “Parent’s Letter” of the provision that school officials may, for cause, (i.e., reasonably reliable information that income reported is understated) seek verification of the data in the application.

E. The Wayland Schools will issue the news release in its entirety (without any changes) except to insert name of School District, title of Determining Official, name, address and phone number of Hearing Official to the following:

1. Local news media

2. Local public welfare and private charitable organizations

3. Local unemployment office

4. Major employers that may be contemplating large layoffs of personnel

F. The School Department will provide a system so that there will be no overt identification of those children that will be eligible for reduced-price meals.