The following is a press release from the California Department of Education. Download a PDF of the release here.
Alder Grove Charter School, Arcata School District, Big Lagoon Union School District, Blue Lake Union School District, Bridgeville School District, Coastal Grove Charter School, Cuddeback Union School District, Cutten School District, Eureka City Schools Unified District, Ferndale Unified School District, Fieldbrook School District, Fortuna Elementary School District, Fortuna Union High School District, Freshwater School District, Fuente Nueva Charter School, Humboldt County Office of Education, Hydesville School District, Jacoby Creek School District, Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District, Kneeland School District, Loleta Union School District, Mattole Unified School District, McKinleyville Union School District, Northern Humboldt Union High School District, Orick School District, Pacific Union School District, Peninsula Union School District, Rio Dell School District, Scotia Union School District, South Bay Union School District, Southern Humboldt Unified School District, Trinidad Union School District and Union Street Charter School announces its policy to serve nutritious meals every school day under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program. Effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, children are eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the household income is less than or equal to the federal guidelines.
The following school districts/school sites are participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and have amended their policy for serving meals to students under the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs for the 2019-2020 school year. All students will be served lunch and breakfast at no charge at the following sites: Eureka City Schools (all elementary schools, Winship, and Zoe Barnum only); Fortuna Elementary School District (South Fortuna Elementary and Fortuna Middle School only); Fortuna Union High School (East High School only); Humboldt County Office of Education (Eureka Community School only); Loleta Union School District (Loleta Elementary); Orick School District (Orick Elementary); Peninsula School District (Peninsula Elementary); Rio Dell School District (Eagle Prairie Elementary and Monument Middle School). Households are not required to submit an Application for the above mentioned school sites.
Households do not need to turn in an application when the household receives a notification letter saying that all children automatically qualify for free meals when any household member receives benefits from CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR. Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, and children enrolled in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals. Contact school officials if any child in the household is not on the notification letter. The household must let school officials know if they do not want to receive free or reduced-price meals.
Applications will be sent to the household with a letter about the free and reduced-price meal program. Households that want to apply for meal benefits, must fill out one application for all children in the household and submit it to the school for processing. The school will let you know if your application is approved or denied for free or reduced-price meals.
Households may turn in an application at any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now, but your household income goes down, household size goes up, or a household member starts receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR, you may turn in an application at that time. Information given on the application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school officials. The last four digits of the Social Security number from any adult household or checking that you do not have a Social Security number is required if you include income on the application.
Households that receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals by filling out an application.
Foster children are eligible for free meals and may be included as a household member if the foster family chooses to also apply for the non-foster children on the same application. Including foster children as a household member may help the non-foster children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. If the non-foster children are not eligible, this does not keep foster children from receiving free meals.
Your child’s eligibility status from last school year will continue into the new school year for up to 30 school days or until the school processes your new application, or your child is otherwise certified for free or reduced-price meals. After the 30 school days, your child will have to pay full price for meals, unless the household receives a notification letter for free or reduced-price meals. School officials do not have to send reminder or expired eligibility notices.
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call 866-632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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(2) fax: (202) 690-7442
(3) email: program.intake@usda.gov
