RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY SCHOOLS today announced its policy tor providing free and

RAPPAHANNOCK COUNTY SCHOOLS today announced its policy tor providing free and reduced price meals for children served under the National School Luncn Program, and/or School Breakfast Program. Each school and/or central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party. The household size and income criteria identified below will be used to determine eligibility for free and reduced price meal benefits. Children from households whose income is at or below the levels shown are elibible for free or reduced price meals. Children who are members of food stamp households or receive Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) assistance units are automatically eligible for free meals. Foster children who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court also may be elbigibie for benefits regardless of tfie income of the household with whom they reside. Eligibility for the foster child is based on tie child's income. Household Size 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 For Each Additional Family Member Add Maximum Household Income For Free Meals $9,568 12,792 16,016 , 19,240 22,464 25,688 28,912 32,136 +3,224 Household Income For Reduced Price Meals $9,568.01 12.792.01 16.016.01 19.240.01 22.464.01 25.688.01 28.912.01 32.136.01 $13,616 - 18,204 - 22,792 - 27,380 - 31,968 - 36,556 - 41,144 - 45,732 +4,588 Application forms are being distnbuted to all houshokfs with a letter informing households of the availability of free and reduced price meals for their children. Applications also are available at the pnnapafs office in each school. To apply for free or reduced price meals, households must fill out the aplication and return it to the school. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year.The information households provide on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eiibtbility and venfication of data Applications may be venfied at any time during the school year by school ot other program officials. For school officials to determine elibibdity for free and reduced price benefits, households receiving food stamps or AFDC only have to list their child's name, and food stamp of AFDC case number, and an adult household member who signs the application. Households who do not list a food stamp or AFDC case number must list the names of all household members, the amount and source of the income received by each household member, and the social secunty number of the adult household member who signs the application. If the household member does not have a social secunty number, the household member must indicate that a social secunty number is not available. The application must be signed by an adult household member. Under the provisions of the free and reduced price meal policy. Judith N. Burke, Food Service Director, will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal oasis. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in wnting to Dr. David Gangal, SupL Households that list a food stamp of AFDC case number must report when the household no longer receives these benefits. Other households approved for benefits based on income information must report increases in household income of over $50 per month or $600 per year and decreases in household size. Also, if a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household's income falls at or below the levels shown above. Households that receive food stamps or AFDC do not have to complete a school lunch or breakfast application. School officials will determine eligibility for free meals based on documentation obtained directly from the food stamp/AFDC office that a child is a member of a household currently receiving food stamps or is receiving AFDC. School officials will notify households of tieir eligibility and that the household must notify the school when they no longer receive food stamps or AFDC. Households who are notified of their eligibility, but who do not want their children to receive free meals must contact the school. Food stamp and AFDC households should complete an application if they are not notified of their eligibility by September 6,1995. In the operation of child feeding programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, no child will be discriminated against because of race, color, sex. national ongin, age, or handicap. If any member of a household believes they have been discriminated against, tiey should wnte immediately to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250.