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Download a free and reduced price breakfast/lunch application here
(PDF) In accordance with the National School Lunch Act, Guilderland provides free or reduced price school lunches/breakfasts for students from needy families. Application forms are mailed to district residents each August, included with the district calendar and transportation schedule. Application forms are also available in all individual school main offices. Note: Interested families must apply each year, even if they have participated in the program during the previous school year. For more information, contact School Lunch Director Linda Mossop at (518) 456-6200, ext. 3110. |
Review the reduced-price meal eligibility fact sheet for helpful hints when filling out the form.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Do I need to fill
out an application for each child?
A. No. Complete the application to apply for free or reduced price meals. Do
not fill out more than one application for your household.
Q. Who can get free
meals?
A. Children in households getting Food Stamps or TANF and 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. Each foster child must be listed on a separate
application, with Part 2 completed and include an adult signature.
Q. Can homeless,
runaway and migrant children get free meals?
A. Please call (school, homeless liaison or migrant coordinator) to see if
your child(ren) qualify, if you have not been informed that they will get
free meals.
Q. Who can get
reduced price meals?
A. 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.
Q. Should I fill out
an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children
are approved for free or reduced price meals?
A. Please read the letter you received carefully and follow the
instructions. Call the school at 456-6200, ext. 3110, if you have questions.
Q. I get WIC, can my
child(ren) get free meals?
A. Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or
reduced price meals, but an applications must be completed.
Q. Will the
information I give be checked?
A. The school may ask you during the school year to verify your eligibility.
You will be notified, in writing, if you have been selected for
verification. School officials will ask you to send papers confirming the
income you provided on the application.
Q. If I don’t
qualify now, may I apply later?
A. Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household
size goes up, income goes down, or if you start receiving Food Stamps or
TANF.
Q. What if I
disagree with the school’s decision about my application?
A. You should talk to the food services director, Linda Mossop, or the
assistant superintendent for business, Neil Sanders. You also may ask for a
hearing by calling or writing to: Neil Sanders, 6076 State Farm Road,
Guilderland, NY 12084 (518-456-6200).
Q. May I apply if
someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
A. Yes. You or your child(ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify
for free or reduced price meals.
Q. Who should I
include as members of my household?
A. 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.
Q. What if my income
is not always the same?
A. List the amount that you normally get. For example, if you normally get
$1,000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900,
put down that you get $1,000 per month. If you normally get overtime,
include it, but not if you get it only sometimes.
How to apply
To get free or reduced price meals for your children you may submit a Direct Certification letter received from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, OR carefully complete the application (PDF) for your household and return it to the school. If you now receive food stamps or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) for any children, the application must include the children’s names, the household food stamp, TANF number and the signature of an adult household member. All children with the same case number may be listed on the same application. Separate applications are required for children with different case numbers. If you do not list a food stamp, TANF or FDPIR number for all the children for whom you are applying, the application must include the names of everyone in the household, the amount of income for each household member, and how often it is received and where it comes from. It must include the signature of an adult household member and that adult’s social security number, or the word “none” if the adult does not have a social security number. An application that is not complete cannot be approved.
Reporting Changes
The benefit that you are approved for at the time of application are effective for the entire school year. You no longer need to report changes for an increase in income or decrease in household size, or if you no longer receive food stamps.
Nondiscrimination Statement
This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Meal Service to Children With Disabilities
Federal regulations require schools and institutions to serve meals at no extra charge to children with a disability which may restrict their diet. A student with a disability is defined in 7CFR Part 15b.3 of Federal regulations, as one who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities are defined to include functions such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. You must request the special meals from the school and provide the school with medical certification from a medical doctor. If you believe your child needs substitutions because of a disability, please get in touch with us for further information, as there is specific information that the medical certification must contain.
Confidentiality
The United States Department of Agriculture has approved the release of
students’ names and eligibility status, without parent/guardian consent, to
persons directly connected with the administration or enforcement of federal
education programs such as Title I and the National Assessment of
Educational Progress (NAEP), which are United States Department of Education
programs used to determine areas such as the allocation of funds to schools,
to evaluate socioeconomic status of the school’s attendance area, and to
assess educational progress. Information may also be released to State
health or State education programs administered by the State agency or local
education agency, provided the State or local education agency administers
the program, and federal, State or local nutrition programs similar to the
National School Lunch Program. Additionally, all information contained in
the free and reduced price application may be released to persons directly
connected with the administration or enforcement of programs authorized
under the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) or Child Nutrition Act (CNA);
including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, the
Special Milk Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food
Service Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women,
Infants and Children (WIC); the Comptroller General of the United States for
audit purposes, and federal, State or local law enforcement officials
investigating alleged violation of the programs under the NSLA or CNA.
The disclosure of eligibility information not specifically authorized by the
NSLA requires a written consent statement from the parent/guardian.
We will let you know when your application is approved or denied.