Policy for Providing Free or Reduced Price Meals
2011-2012 School Year

• Children from households whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for either free or reduced price meals.
  
  
• Children who are members of households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or who receive Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) may be automatically eligible for free meals.
  
  
• Children who are homeless, migrant, or runaway may also be automatically eligible for free meals. Contact the homeless liaison at 757.263.2300 for more information.
  
  
• Foster children, who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court, may be eligible for benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside.A foster child is automatically eligible for free meals.
  
  
• Children who are members of households participating in Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) may also be eligible for free or reduced-price meals based on the household’s income.

• Earlier this summer, the Virginia Beach school division's Office of Food Services sent a letter and application to all households to inform them of the availability of free or reduced price meals for their children.

• Applications are also available at the principal's office in each school and at the Office of Food Services. To apply for free or reduced price meals, households must only fill out one application per household and return it to the school division.

• Although parents are encouraged to complete applications before the school year begins, applications may be submitted at any time during the school year especially if household income or other changes occur.

• If a household is not eligible now but has a change, such as a decrease in household income, an increase in household size, becomes unemployed or qualifies for SNAP or TANF, the household should contact the school for an application. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household's income falls at or below the levels shown in the income chart.

• Households that receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) may not have to complete an application for free or reduced price student meals.
  

• School officials will determine eligibility for free meals based on documentation, obtained directly from the Virginia Department of Social Services, that a child is a member of a household currently receiving SNAP or is receiving TANF. 

• School officials will notify these households of their eligibility. Households who are notified of their eligibility, but who do not want their children to receive free meals, must contact the Office of Food Services.

• SNAP and TANF households must complete an application if they are not notified by August 15 of their automatic eligibility.

• The information households provide on the application will be used for determining eligibility and verification of data.  Applications may be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program officials. 

• Under the provisions of the free and reduced price meal policy, Angelina Culotta, food services program analyst in the Office of Food Services, will review applications and determine eligibility.

• Households dissatisfied with the ruling of the eligibility determining official may wish to discuss the decision with the official on an informal basis. A formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may be requested either verbally or in writing to:
  
  Director of Food Services
  Virginia Beach City Public Schools
  School Administration Annex, Building 16
  P.O. Box 6038
  Virginia Beach, Virginia 23456
  Telephone: 757.263.1101 Fax: 757.263.1527

• For further information, call Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ Office of Food Services at 757.263.1101.

2011-2012 USDA Non-discrimination Statement