The District has and will continue to participate in federally funded school lunch programs. Through the federally funded school lunch program, the District has and will continue to offer and provide to qualified District students free or reduced price food services. Starting with the 2025-2026 school year, New York State adopted a new law providing for “New York State Universal Free Meals” by which school districts participating in the federal school lunch program are required to provide one reimbursable lunch per day at no cost to all students. In other words, under New York State Universal Free Meals, on each day school is in session for a school’s lunch time(s), District students are entitled to one free lunch. New York State does this by supplementing the federal reimbursements available for the school lunch program and requires participating school districts to maximize their federal reimbursements. As a result, the District is required to promote the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to students and their families and to process applications for free or reduced price lunch.
An application may be made for a free or a reduced price lunch for any student attending the Yorktown Central School District who qualifies under the terms of the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines.
Application forms can be obtained from the Principal or from the District website. All applications are reviewed at the beginning of each school year and then as received throughout the school year. If initially found not eligible and changes occur in household size or income, a subsequent application may be made during the school year. Students that receive food assistance, Medicaid assistance, or are classified as homeless or foster children, are directly certified by the county and no application is necessary
Eligibility Determination
Each Principal shall make final determinations as to which students in attendance at their school are eligible to receive such services within ten (10) school days of receipt of an application.
2. Standards of Eligibility
Any student who is a member of a household whose income is below the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines for households of the same number shall be eligible to receive such services.
3. Application Procedures
a. Application forms will be available in the main office of each school building and on the District website.
b. Completed forms must be submitted to the Principal of the school which the student attends prior to any determination of eligibility.
c. The person in parental relation to the student will be informed of the Principal's determination within ten (10) school days of receiving a properly completed application.
4. Provision for Anonymity
Upon approval of the application for free and reduced food services, the Principal or their designee will update the student information system with the student’s status. The point-of-sale system used by the food service company will also be updated with the student’s status so that anonymity will be protected. All reasonable efforts will be extended in protecting the anonymity of the student in accordance with federal regulations governing such programs.
5. Provision for Appeal
Upon written request, the Assistant Superintendent of Business will hear appeals of determinations regarding such services in compliance with federal regulations governing the National School Lunch Program.
Ref: National School Lunch Act of 1946, as amended (42 USC 1751-1760)
Child Nutrition Act of 1966, Public Law 89-642, 80 Stat. 885, as amended
Adoption date: August 25, 2025