Public Release For LEAs Operating provision 2 NSLP and SBP

Public Release

2022-2023 School Year

Spickard R-II School is offering free meals to all enrolled students (children ages 18 and under) under USDA Provision 2. Provision 2 requires that the school serve meals to participating children at no charge but reduces application burdens to once every 4 years and simplifies meal counting and claiming procedures by allowing a school to receive meal reimbursement based on claiming percentages. During the base year (2022-2023), households are encouraged to complete and submit an application for free and reduced price meals to the district for processing.  Free and reduced data is used to help maintain meal count system requirements, report to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for funding formulas, and establish eligibility for other benefits, particularly Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) and Emergency Broadband Benefit.  Spickard R-II School announced its revised free and reduced price policy for school children offered meals in schools under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

Local education officials have adopted the following family-size income criteria for deter­mining eligibility:

Children from families whose current income is at or below those shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals.  Applications are available at the school office.  To apply, fill out a Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application and return it to the school.  The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility.  Applications may be submitted any time during the school year.  A complete application is required as a condition of eligibility.  A complete application includes: (1) household income from all sources or Food Stamp/TANF case number, (2) names of all household members, and (3) the signature and last four digits of social security number or indication of no social security number of adult household member signing the application.  School officials may verify current income at any time during the school year.

Foster children may be eligible regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside.

If a family member becomes unemployed or if family size changes, the family should contact the school to file a new application.  Such changes may make the children of the family eligible for these benefits. 

Households will be notified of their children’s eligibility status for free or reduced price meals.  If any children were not listed on the eligibility notice for families receiving SNAP, TANF or FDPIR, the household should contact the school to have free meal benefits extended to those children.   

If any child(ren) was not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact the LEA or school to have free meal benefits extended to that child(ren).

Under the provisions of the policy, the Superintendent will review the applications and determine eligibility.  If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official, they may wish to discuss the decision with the hearing official on an informal basis or he/she may make a request either orally or in writing to the Board of Education.

Hearing procedures are outlined in the policy.  A complete copy of the policy is on file in each school and in the central office where any interested party may review it.

USDA Non-discrimination 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; or

(3)      email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.