The William S. Hart Union High School District announced its policy Tuesday for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Each school and/or the central office have a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

The household size and income criteria identified below will be used to determine eligibility for free, reduced-price, or full-price meal benefits. Children from households whose income is at or below the levels shown here are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Children who receive Food Stamps (CalFresh), California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payments (Kin-GAP), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits are automatically eligible for free meals regardless of the income of the household in which they reside.

Foster children who are the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals. Homeless, runway, and migrant students that meet the definition of at least one of these categories are eligible for free meals. Please contact the student’s counselor or school homeless liaison to see if they qualify.

The application packages are being distributed with the student’s registration materials. The application materials are also available at the office of your student’s school, at WSHUHSD 21380 Centre Pointe Parkway, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, and at www.hartdistrict.org/index.php/students/school-lunch-program.

To apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits, households must accurately complete an application and return it to the school or WSHUHSD attn: Monica Kirk for processing. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. If your student attended a William S. Hart UHSD school last year and was receiving free or reduced priced meals, their eligibility will only carry over into the new school year for 30 days. If you want to apply, a new application should be turned in as soon as possible in order to determine eligibility for the 2015-16 school year. The information households provide on the application will be used to determine meal eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school or program officials.

Requirements for school officials to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits are as follows: For households receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP, or FDPIR benefits, applications need to include: the names of all household members and the name of school for each child, the CalFresh, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP, or FDPIR case number, the case type, the name of the person receiving the benefit, and the signature of the adult household member completing the application. For households who do not list a CalFresh, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP, or FDPIR case number, or the application includes a mix of non-foster children and foster children, the application must include: the names of all household members, the WSHUSD school attending if applicable, the amount (including no income) and source of the income received by each household member, and the signature and corresponding last four digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member completing the application. If the household member who signs the application does not have a Social Security number, the household member must mark the “I do not have a Social Security Number” box. For household applying solely for foster children, the application must include: the names of the foster children, school name, the box checked indicating foster child, and the signature of the adult household member filling out the application.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, the determining official(s), as designated by the sponsor/agency, shall review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the eligibility ruling may discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. Parents may also make a formal request for an appeal hearing of the decision and may do so orally or in writing with the sponsor/agency’s hearing official. Parents or guardians should contact their child(ren)’s school(s) for specific information regarding the name of the determining official and/or hearing official for a specific school, agency, or district.

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household can reapply at any time. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the levels shown above.

Households that receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP, or FDPIR benefits may not have to complete an Application for Free or Reduced-Price Meals. School officials will determine eligibility for free meals based on documentation obtained directly from the CalFresh, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP, or FDPIR office that a child is a member of a household currently receiving CalFresh or FDPIR benefits or an assistance unit receiving CalWORKs or Kin-GAP benefits. School officials will notify households of their eligibility, but those who do not want their child(ren) to receive free meals must contact the school. CalFresh, CalWORKs, Kin-GAP, and FDPIR households should complete an application if they are not notified of their eligibility by August 12, 2015.