Superintendents
Co-op Directors
other: Child Nutrition Directors

Regulatory Authority:
PL 108-265, 7CFR Part 245, USDA Policy Memo SP 06-2008, SP 38-2009, SP 06-2010

Phone Number:
501-324-9502

E-mail:
karen.franklin@arkansas.gov

The "Eligibility Manual for School Meals," has been revised to reflect changes in determining student eligibility for free or reduced price meals by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). These changes are effective immediately. This revised guidance must be used in place of the 2008 guidance manual for the 2010-2011 school year.

This manual contains information on Federal requirements regarding the determination and verification of eligibility for free and reduced price meals in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

Although the January 2010 manual replaces the July 2008 manual, please retain a copy of the 2008 manual for supporting documentation of eligibility determination for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years.

This revised manual has been highlighted to show the areas with major change from the 2008 Eligibility Manual. Changes to note:

1. The Food Stamp Program is now called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.
2. USDA Policy Memo SP 38-2009 extends direct certification free meal benefits to all children in the household when one child in the household is on the direct certification list. (See FIN-10-021).
3. USDA Policy Memo SP 38-2009 extends free meal benefits to all children in the household when one child in the household is a member of an approved SNAP household. (See FIN-10-021).
4. USDA Policy Memo SP 06-2010 excludes military combat pay from income to determine free and reduced meal benefit eligibility. (See FIN-10-057).

For additional information, contact the school district area specialist at 501-324-9502.