Free or Reduced Price School Meals September 2014

USDA Food and Nutrition Service School Meal Programs School Breakfast Program (SBP) National School Lunch Program (NSLP) After School Snacks and Childcare programs (CACFP) Summer Food Service Program (Summer Meals) Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) Special Milk Program

School Meals in Washington State School meal programs administered by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Who participates? – 277/280 public school districts – 46 private schools – 56 residential child care institutions

School Meals: Breakfast

School Meals: Lunch

Free and Reduced Price Meals Eligibility Ways to determine eligibility: – Direct Certification, Categorical Eligibility – Income Based – Community Eligibility

Free and Reduced Price Meals Eligibility Source:

Free and Reduced Price Meals Eligibility School District required to directly certify, and notify households that kids can receive FREE meals at school. – If any person in the household has a case # for Basic Food or TANF, kids qualify. – Parents should contact School District Nutrition Services if they qualify but their child is not offered free meals. – Will need to partially fill out the FRP application. Child’s name, child’s case number, signature of adult in household

Ways to Determine Eligibility Income Based Income Based – If not categorically eligible, fill out the FRP Meal Application, return to school or district office Names of household members Amount and source of income (previous month) Signature of an adult household member Case #, last 4 digits of social security #, or check box for no SSN

Application Available at:

USDA Child Nutrition Program Income Guidelines July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015 Household Size Free Eligible Annual Income Limit (130% FPL) Reduced Price Eligible Annual Income Limit (185% FPL) 2$20,449$29,101 3$25,727$36,612 4$31,005$44,123 5$36,283$51,634 Ways to Determine Eligibility Income Based Source:

Ways to Determine Eligibility Community Eligibility – Schools with 40% or more children Directly Certified as eligible for Free Meals can provide free breakfast and lunch to all students without collecting applications. In , all schools nationwide can participate School Nutrition Services able to get reimbursed enough to cover costs if at least 62.5% of kids are directly certified.

State of our State # kids who qualify for FRP Meals: 476,211 – 45% of all kids attending school Community Eligibility – 56 Schools in 13 School Districts will participate this year! Yakima Aberdeen Franklin Pierce Granger Keller Lake Quinault Palisades Soap Lake Spokane Toppenish Union Gap Warden Wellpinit Richland

State of our State School Meals cost to students – BREAKFAST: State funds make breakfast FREE for all Reduced Price eligible students. Average Price of breakfast for non FRP students: – LUNCH: State funds make lunch FREE for all Reduced Price eligible students in K-3 rd grades. Average Price of lunch for non FRP students: ElementaryMiddle SchoolHigh School $1.42$1.54$1.56 ElementaryMiddle SchoolHigh School $2.35$2.64$2.71

How Can We Help Kids Better Access School Meals? Ask Basic Food applicants if kids are getting free meals at school – If not, follow up with school district to get kids direct certified or fill out application Growing number of kids from families that don’t quite qualify…

THANK YOU! Acacia Larson Child Nutrition Program Manager