701.40 Eligibility for Free or Reduced Cost Meals
Free or reduced cost meals will be provided to those students whose parents/guardians complete an eligibility application for the current year and who meet the guidelines set by the USDA. The district shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the overt identification of students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals, and no student will be physically segregated or otherwise face discrimination because of an inability to pay for a school lunch meal.
At least twice annually, the district shall notify all families of the availability of, eligibility criteria for, and application procedures for free or reduced price meals in accordance with state and federal law.
It is the responsibility of the Director of Nutrition Services/designee to determine student eligibility for free or reduced price school nutrition programs, in accordance with criteria established by state and federal law. If school personnel have knowledge of a student who is in need of free or reduced-price meals, school personnel shall contact the Director of Nutrition Services. The District may take up to ten (10) business days to determine eligibility. All eligible applications will be forwarded to the Nutrition Services Department.
The superintendent/designee shall arbitrate any disagreement with the eligibility determination.
If a student owes money for five or more meals, the Director of Nutrition Services/designee may contact the parent/guardian to provide information regarding the application for free or reduced price meals. The school is encouraged to provide reimbursable meals to students who request reimbursable meals unless the students’ parent/ or guardian has specifically provided written direction to the school to withhold a meal from the student.
The superintendent/designee shall develop administrative regulations to implement this policy.
Legal Reference:
42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq..
7 C.F.R. §§ 210 et seq..
Iowa Code § 283A.
281 I.A.C. 58.
Cross Reference:
701 Series – School Lunch Program
Reviewed:
July 14, 2003
June 20, 2011
May 16, 2016
July 16, 2018
June 16, 2022
Revised:
January 15, 2001
June 20, 2011
May 16, 2016
July 16, 2018
July 25, 2022