SCHOOL MEALS 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR

Dear Parent / Guardian:

The Walton County School District offers healthy meals every school day. A well-balanced breakfast and a healthy lunch are essential for students to learn in a curriculum-rich environment. Our menus consistently change based on valuable input from students and parents. We are excited to provide excellent meal options for the 2022-23 School Year! Due to expired waivers, ALL meals for the 2022-23 School Year will be application-based.

You may apply for free or reduced meals by:

1. Applying online per household with ease at www.ezmealapp.com

**This method is the quickest, and parents that include email information will receive an email response and letter of benefit type the same day processed.

        2. Submitting ONE paper application per household

 Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The cost of the meals are as follows:

Please NOTE:

If you have received a NOTICE OF DIRECT CERTIFICATION for free meals: DO NOT complete the application.

DO let the school site know if any children in your household are not listed on the Notice of Direct Certification.

Application completion by families is extremely important. Your application for Free and Reduced Lunch will impact the following.

• School Funding: Increased school funding to support all students and ensure an outstanding educational experience.
• Internet and Technology: WSCD can receive increased funding for internet access, wireless and network services.
• College Application Fees: Discounted fees on college applications.
  • Access to Grants: Data gathered from meal applications allow WCSD to access competitive local, state and federal grants.
  • SAT, ACT, and AP Fees: Discounted fees on academic tests and exams.
  • School Meals: Meal application data is essential in determining future free breakfasts, lunches or both.

Below are some frequently asked questions and answers to help determine your child’s eligibility.

#1. WHO CAN GET FREE MEALS? All children in households receiving benefits from the following programs can get free meals regardless of income:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR),
• Medicaid or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF),

Additionally,

• Foster children under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals. Must contact District liaison for application approval.
• Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if their household’s income is within the limits of the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on the chart on the next page.

#2. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD? No. Use one Free and Reduced-Price School Meal Application for all students in your household. All students on the application will receive the same benefit even if they attend different schools. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to FILL OUT ALL REQUIRED INFORMATION. Return the application to the school or complete it online at the District website.

https://www.walton.k12.fl.us/food-services-department

#3. CAN I APPLY ONLINE? Yes! If possible, you are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Visit https://www.walton.k12.fl.us/food-services-department to begin or to learn more about the online application process. Contact Robert Martin, 850-892-1100 Ext.1361, [email protected] if you have any questions about the online application.

#4. MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE? YES! Your child’s

application is only good for that school year and the first few weeks of the current school year. You must send in a new application unless the school tells you your child is eligible for the new school year. If you do not send in a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible for free meals, your child will be charged the full price for meals.

#5. CAN FOSTER CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS? Yes. Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals. Parents are required to contact the designated District Foster Liaison, Sharon Bartels-Wheeless, for assistance.

#6. CAN HOMELESS, RUNAWAY, HEAD START, AND MIGRANT CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS? Yes. Children who meet the

definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals. Parents are required to contact the designated

District Homeless Liaison Janet Brack or District Migrant Liaison Cathy Hall for assistance.

#7. WHO CAN GET REDUCED-PRICE MEALS? Children can get reduced-price meals if their household income is within the reduced-price limits on the Federal Eligibility Income Chart.

FLORIDA INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR FREE AND

REDUCED-PRICE MEALS

Effective from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023

#8. SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVE A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE APPROVED

FOR FREE MEALS? No. Please read the letter carefully and follow the instructions. Only those who have children in state- funded Head Start and those who have been defined by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 as homeless, runaway, migrant, or foster should have received a letter. Call your school if you have questions.

#9. I RECEIVE BENEFITS FROM WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN (WIC). CAN MY CHILDREN RECEIVE FREE MEALS?

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please send in an application.

#10. WILL THE INFORMATION I GIVE BE CHECKED? Yes, and we may also ask you to send written proof.

#11. IF I DON’T QUALIFY NOW, MAY I APPLY LATER? Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who become unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.

#12. WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE SCHOOL’S DECISION ABOUT MY APPLICATION? You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to the designated hearing official, Stephanie Hofheinz, CFO.

#13. MAY I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSEHOLD IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN? Yes. You or your children do not have to be

U.S. citizens to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

#14. WHAT IF SOME HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE NO INCOME TO REPORT? Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we assume you meant to do so.

#15. WHAT IF MY INCOME IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME? List the amount that you usually receive. For example, if you typically make $1000 each month but missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made

$1000 per month. If you typically get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.

#16. WE ARE IN THE MILITARY. DO WE REPORT OUR INCOME DIFFERENTLY? Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.