Free and Reduced-Price Meal Guidelines for 2013-2014 School Year

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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 offered at no cost to all students; lunch costs $1.45 at elementary schools and $1.70 at secondary campuses. All students no matter their meal status (free, reduced or paid) are encouraged to eat breakfast and lunch every day. Aldine ISD school meals meet the Dietary Guidelines for Healthy Americans and all national standards of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in addition to the adopted nutritional requirements of the Texas Department of Agriculture.

The application for free and reduced-price meals is available online at www.aldine.k12.tx.us or www.aldinecafe.com and clicking on the online Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Application link. This process makes it easy and convenient to apply for meal benefits for your child or children. Simply enter the requested information as accurately as possible, and all data will be instantly and securely sent to the Child Nutrition Department for processing.

Each school is also distributing meal application forms to all households with a letter informing families of the availability of free and reduced-price meals for their children. Applications are also available at the Child Nutrition Services Office. To apply for free and 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 — breakfast is available to all students at no cost. Parents should allow 10 working days for eligibility determination after receipt of a completed paper application by the Child Nutrition 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. 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 Eligibility Group 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 four (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. Again, the application must be signed by an adult household member.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Marisol Martínez, reviewing official for free and reduced-price meal benefits, 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 who serves as the hearing official at 713-267-1706.

Children may be 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 informs parents and/or legal 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 legal guardian must fill out a Free and Reduced Meal Benefits Application.

All families that were approved for free or reduced price meals at the end of the 2012-2013 school year will receive meal service through early-October 2013. Federal law dictates that everyone receiving free or reduced-price 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 2013-2014 school year, applications will be available after August 1, 2013 in schools and at the central Child Nutrition Services Department Office, located at 2112 Aldine Meadows, Houston, Texas 77032. 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.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly. The U.S Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].