Free and Reduced-Priced Meal Guidelines for 2012-2013 School Year

Disponible en: Español

Aldine’s Child Nutrition Services Department administers the federal free and reduced-price meal program. Both breakfast and lunch are available to all students in Aldine ISD. Breakfast is available on every campus at no cost to all students. The district strongly encourages all students, whether they receive free or reduced-price meals or “paid” meals, to eat breakfast and lunch each day. School meals meet the Dietary Guidelines for Healthy Americans and all national standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in addition to the adopted nutritional requirements of the Texas Department of Agriculture.

The application for free and reduced-price meals is available online. This process makes it easy and convenient to apply for meal benefits for your child(ren). Simply enter the requested information as accurately as possible, and all data will be instantly and securely sent to the Child Nutrition Services Department for processing.

Meal application forms are also being distributed by each school to all households with a letter informing households of the availability of free and reduced-price meals for their children. Applications also are available at the Child Nutrition Services Department. To apply to determine if your child qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, households must fill out the application and return it to the school. Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and verification of data. Applications may be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year.

Eligibility is based on federally established income and household guidelines. Until applications are processed, parents will need to give their children money to purchase lunch. Parents should allow 10 working days for eligibility determination after receipt of a completed paper application by the Child Nutrition Services Department.

Any foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the state or placed by a court with a caretaker household is now categorically eligible for free meals without an application. Households with foster and non-foster children may choose to include the foster child as a household member.

For school officials to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits, households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly Food Stamps)/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) only have to list their child’s name and SNAP or TANF case number. An adult household member must sign the application.

Households that do not list a SNAP/TANF case number must list the names of all household members, the amount and source of the income received by each household member, and the last 4 digits of Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application. If the adult who signs the application does not have a Social Security number, the household member must indicate that a Social Security number is not available by writing the word “None,” “No Number,” or some indication that the person does not have a Social Security number. The application must be signed by an adult household member.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Marisol Martinez, Reviewing Official will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the decision with the reviewing official on an informal basis. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to April Weisedel, Hearing Official at (713) 267-1706.

Children are eligible for free meals without an application if they are listed on the Texas Department of Agriculture Direct Certification Program. Families who are Direct Certified will receive a letter from Aldine ISD Child Nutrition Services Department. This letter tells parents and/or guardians that their children are already approved for meal benefits. Families receiving this letter should not complete a new application. If any school-age children in a Direct-Certified family are not listed on the letter, the parent or guardian must notify the Child Nutrition Services Department.

All families that were approved for free or reduced price meals at the end of the 2011-2012 school year will receive meal service through early-October. Federal law dictates that everyone receiving free/reduced meals must reapply each year, unless they are Direct Certified. For those who are not Direct Certified, and feel they will need assistance for the 2012-2013 school year, applications will be available after July 30, 2012 in schools or at the central Child Nutrition Services Department, located at 2112 Aldine Meadows, Houston, Texas. Early completion of the application assures families faster, better service in the processing of applications. Please fill out only one application per family. Applications must be filled out completely and signed before they can be processed either online or by hand. For more information, contact the Child Nutrition Service Department at (281) 985-6450.