Santa Fe Public Schools announces its policy for free and reduced price meals under NSLP

By SFPS

Santa Fe Public Schools announced its policy for free and reduced price meals for children unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the After School Snack Program.  Each school and the Student Nutrition Office have a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

Beginning July 1, 2020, applications may be completed electronically from any computer with internet access. Simply go to www.myschoolapps.com. You may also come to the Student Nutrition office at 2600 Cerrillos Road Suite D or the Education Service Center at 610 Alta Vista to pick up a paper form.  If you have questions please call SNS at 505-467-3600.

Students who attend a school listed below will need to fill out an application to determine eligibility for free, reduced-price, or full-price meals.

 

Acequia Madre, Atalaya, Carlos Gilbert, Chaparral, EJ Martinez, Pinon, Wood Gormley Elementary Schools, Amy Biehl, El Dorado, Gonzales Community Schools, Milagro Middle School, Mandela Magnet School, and Santa Fe High School

The household size and income criteria identified below will be used to determine the eligibility.  Children from households whose income is at or below the levels shown here are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.  Requirements for school officials to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits are as follows: For households receiving SNAP, or FDPIR or TANF benefits – applications need only include the enrolled child(ren)’s name, SNAP, or FDPIR case number, and the signature of an adult household member. For households who do not list a SNAP, or FDPIR  or TANF case number, the application must include the names of all household members, the amount and source of the income received by each household member, and the signature and corresponding Social Security number of an adult household member.  If the household member who signs the application does not have a Social Security number, the household member must indicate on the application that a Social Security number is not available.

Remember that if your student received meal benefits in the 2020-2021 school year, their status will remain in effect until the new application is processed for up to 30 days. If a new application is not processed within 30 days into the new school year, your student will have to pay full price. If your student is new to Santa Fe Public Schools, they will need to pay for meals until an application has been processed. You can send a pre-payment of cash or check with your child to school to be given to the cafeteria. Or you can pay online at www.myschoolbucks.com

·         Milk cost $.50

·         Breakfast cost $1.20 at all schools

·         Elementary and K-8 Lunch Full Price: $2.30

·         Milagro Middle School Lunch Full Price $2.60

·         Santa Fe High School Lunch Full Price $2.75

 

Income Chart – Effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021

Santa Fe Public Schools will continue the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for Free Meal Reimbursement in School Year 2020-2021 through CEP. The Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 includes the implementation of CEP to insure that every student in low-income neighborhoods and/or districts can participate in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). To qualify, a district or school must have 40 percent or more of its students eligible for free meals based on direct certification. This eliminates the procedure of distributing and processing meal applications. Provision II requires applications to completed in a base year establishing an 80% free or reduced eligibility.

The following schools will participate in Community Eligibility Provision or Provision II will be offered meals at no charge to all students: Aspen , Nina Otero Community School, Cesar Chavez, Nava, Kearny Salazar, Sweeney Tesuque Elementary Schools, El Camino Real Academy, NYE Early Childhood, Ortiz Middle School and ECO Early College Opportunities, Capital and Ramirez Thomas

1.       Do I need to fill out an application for each child?  No.  Use one (1) Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to your child’s school or the Student Nutrition Office at 2600 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM, 87505.

2.           Who can get free meals?  All children in households receiving benefits from (State SNAP)  Food Stamps, TANF or FDPIR. Eligibility for a foster child is based on a separate application and solely on the amount of the child’s “personal use” income.  Also, your children can get free price meals if your household income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.

3.       Can homeless, runaway and migrant children get free meals?  Please call the homeless liaison at 467-2571 to see if your child (ren) qualify, if you have not been informed that they will get free meals.

4.           Who can get reduced price meals? Your children can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits of the federal income chart shown above.

5.           How will I know if my children are approved for free or reduced price meals?  An approval letter will be sent home with your child (ren). Please keep this letter for future program enrollment, i.e. Summer Programs.  Call the Student Nutrition Office at 467-3600 if you have questions.

6.           I get WIC. Can my child (ren) get free meals?  Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Please fill out an application.

7.       If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later?  Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start getting Food Stamps, FDPIR or other benefits.  If you lose your job, your children may be able to get free or reduced price meals.

8.       May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?  Yes. You or your child (ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced price meals.

9.       Who should I include as members of my household?  You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends).  You must include yourself and all children who live with you.

10.     What if my income is not always the same?  List the amount that you normally get. For example, if you normally get $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1000 per month.  If you normally get overtime, include it, but if it’s only occasionally, do not include it.

11.     Will I have to pay the negative balance if my application is processed as free? YES. All negative balances must be paid regardless of approval status.

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information on this application. You do not have to give the information, but if you do not, we cannot approve your child for free or reduced price meals. You must include the last four digits of the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. The last four digits of the social security number is not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) case number or other FDPIR identifier for your child or when you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number. We will use your information to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced price meals, and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs. We MAY share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules.

NON-DISCRIMINATION: 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. 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: mail:U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 fax: (202) 690-7442; or email:program.intake@usda.gov.

MEALS FOR DISABLED: 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.