The new state categorical funding for National School Lunch Act (NSLA) students has created the potential for the inappropriate use of free and reduced price meal applications.
Schools are aggressively seeking to increase their eligible NSLA students so that the district will be eligible for increased NSLA funding. Districts are reminded that federal policies govern the free and reduced price application process. Those restrictions are listed below.
School officials SHALL NOT REQUIRE any household to return or submit a free and reduced price meal application for meal benefits. The decision to apply for a free and/or reduced price meal benefit is solely that of the household parent or guardian.
School officials shall not require the return of the incomplete application with a signature of a parent or guardian; cannot provide incentives to students or parents to return applications, shall not punish students or withhold privileges from students for non-return of applications, shall not provide communications to parents that are false and/or misleading with relationship to promised state, federal or grant funds that the school or district may receive as a result of the return of a free and reduced application.
All returned applications must be certified as approved or denied according to federal guidelines for processing free and reduced-meal applications. ONLY the school district certifying official(s) shall have knowledge during the approval process of the households that have applied for the benefit. The certifying officials will communicate with households if additional information or clarifications are needed prior to making the determination of the benefit.
If a district or school has violated the above regulations or provisions, the school or district will be required to correct those actions immediately.
For further information regarding federal policies and guidelines, please contact Ms. Wanda Shockey, Child Nutrition Director, At 501-324-9502.