California Area School District offers a choice of healthy meals each school day. Your child(ren) could receive free or reduced price meals if you qualify.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No, complete the application to apply for free or reduced price meals. Use one Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to the Elementary-Middle School or High School Office.
2. Who can get free meals? Children in households getting Food Stamps or TANF and most foster children can get free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can get free price meals if your household income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.
3. Can homeless, runaway, and migrant children get free meals? Please call the Director of Food & Nutrition at 724-785-5800 ext. 1207 to see if your child(ren) qualifies, if you have not been informed that they will get free meals.
4. Who can get reduced price meals? Your children can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Chart, shown on this application.
5. Should I fill out an application if I got a letter this school year saying my children are approved for free or reduced price meals? Please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions, otherwise, guardians must re-submit and application each year for free or reduced lunches.
6. I get WIC. Can my child(ren) get free meals? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Please fill out an application to see if your household fits the criteria.
7. Will the information I give be checked? Yes, we may ask you to send written proof.
8. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start getting Food Stamps, TANF or other benefits. If you lose your job, your children may be able to get free or reduced price meals.
9. What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? Please contact the Director of Food Services with any disagreements.
10. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes, you or your child(ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced price meals.
11. Who should I include as members of my household? You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends). You must include yourself and all children who live with you.
12. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. For example, if you normally get $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get it only sometimes.
13. We are in the military, do we include our housing allowance as income? If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. All other allowances must be included in your gross income.
If you have other questions or need help, call 724-785-5800 extension 1207.
How to Apply
All applicants must complete this application to apply for free or reduced price meals. Use one for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to the Elementary-Middle School or High School Office.
Verification
Your eligibility may be checked at any time during the school year. School officials may ask you to send documentation that your child(ren) is/are eligible to receive free or reduced price meals/snacks.
Fair Hearing: You may talk to school officials if you do not agree with the school's decision on your Meal Benefit Application or the results of verification. You also may ask for a fair hearing. You may do this by calling or writing to the
Director of Food Services
Confidentiality
School officials will use the information on the Meal Benefit Application to decide if your child(ren) is/are eligible to receive free or reduced price meals. The eligibility status of your child(ren) may be given to other child nutrition, health and education programs for determining benefits for those programs and for allocation and evaluation purposes.
Reapplication
You may apply for free or reduced price meals/snacks anytime during the school year. If you are not presently eligible but have a change during this school year, such as a decrease in household income, an increase in household size, unemployment or receive Food Stamp or TANF benefits for your child(ren), complete a Meal Benefit Application at that time.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of all program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
You will be notified if your application is approved or denied.