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A Unique Opportunity to Improve School Meals Applications
Zoë Neuberger and Abby Lane
Overview
The school meals programs can play a critical role in supporting the healthy development of children and helping to ensure that low-income school-aged children have access to adequate nutrition. The process of enrolling for free or reduced-price meals and the application form itself are the gateway to these benefits. Typically school districts send home school meals applications and parents complete them at home without assistance. [1] In contrast to many other income-tested programs, there are no caseworkers dedicated to helping parents navigate the application process. Thus, it is particularly important that these applications be easy to use, provide clear directions, and avoid steps that might deter eligible families from applying.
As a result of changes in recent legislation reauthorizing the federal school meals programs, every school district in the country will have to revise its school meals application for the 2011-2012 school year.[2] While only three specific changes will be necessary, the fact that all applications will be revised and reprinted offers a unique opportunity to go beyond the required changes to improve the content and design of the application and related materials that are sent to households.
This paper is intended as a resource for states and school districts as they revise their materials for households related to the school meals programs.[3] It is not a comprehensive guide to developing these materials; rather, it highlights some best practices in school meals applications from around the country and points out areas where current materials often fall short. Fortunately, eligibility for the school meals programs is relatively straightforward, making a user-friendly application an achievable goal for states and school districts.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture makes available a prototype application and related materials to assist states and school districts as they design household materials.[4] USDA recently published prototype materials that reflect the changes in the reauthorization legislation and will soon provide translations of those materials.[5]
This paper includes four sections. The first section explains the new requirements that necessitate changes to household materials. The second section describes our review of applications and related materials. The third section highlights opportunities to improve program access by making changes to applications (and related materials) and summarizes the findings of our review of these materials. The fourth section undertakes a similar discussion of verification materials (the notice school districts send to a small sample of households that have to provide documentation to confirm their eligibility). Appendices A and B provide more information about the materials we reviewed. Appendices C and D summarize all of the legally required elements of application and verification materials, respectively, including requirements adopted as part of the reauthorization legislation. Appendix E includes a link to each state’s school meals program homepage and school meals forms (where available). Alternatively, readers can access state school meals program web sites by clicking on a state name in the list or map below. Appendix F includes links to the school meals web site for the 100 largest school districts.
Click on state abbreviations below for each state's School Meal Program:
To read the full text of this report, click here.
A Checklist of Key Features of School Meals Application Materials to Improve Program Access
As a result of changes in recent legislation reauthorizing the federal school meals programs, every school district in the country will have to revise its school meals application for the 2011-2012 school year. The following changes will have to be made to applications and related materials:
- The application may not ask for income information to determine the eligibility of foster children and foster children may be included on applications with other children in the household.
- The application may ask only for the last four digits of the Social Security number of the signing adult or an indication that he or she does not have one.
- The verification notice may not ask for Social Security numbers for any household member.
While making these changes, state and school districts have a unique opportunity to do a comprehensive review of their applications and related materials and revise them to make it easier for eligible low-income parents to enroll their children for free or reduced-price school meals.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reviewed both printable and online applications available on the web for each state and the 100 largest school districts. Based on that review, program administrators may wish to consider the following features when revising their applications and related materials.
Provide materials in a language and at a level that parents can understand by |
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Ask only for information necessary to determine eligibility by |
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Reduce math errors by |
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Encourage families that may be eligible to apply by stating clearly on the web site and application |
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Encourage eligible families selected for verification to respond by including in the verification notice |
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State School Meals Program Web Sites
USDA Model Application
School Meals Homepage: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/
Forms: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/FRP/frp.process.htm
- For school year 2011
- Application, parent letter, instructions, disclosure forms, verification notices, notice of direct certification
Translations: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/FRP/frp.process.htm (out-of-date applications)
- Only English and Spanish applications are updated from 2006 (but the Spanish application does not yet reflect the changes necessitated by reauthorization)
- English, Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese (Mandarin), Farsi, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Kurdish, Laotian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Sudanese, Tagalog, Thai, Urdu, Vietnamese
- Only English and Spanish applications are updated from 2006
Reauthorization Policy Memoranda: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Legislation/CNR_2010.htm
Back to table.
State School Meals Information
School Meals Homepage: http://www.alsde.edu/html/sections/section_detail.asp?section=53&footer=sections
Forms: http://www.alsde.edu/html/sections/documents.asp?section=53&sort=44&footer=sections
- For school year 2010-11
- USDA model application, parent letter, instructions, disclosure forms, verification notices, notification of approval/denial, notice of direct certification
- Sample public release 2009-10
- Online application
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/cns/NSLP.html
Forms: http://www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/cns/NSLP2.html
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, parent letter, instructions, disclosure forms, verification notices, notice of direct certification, notice of expiration of temporary benefits
- Sample public release
- FNS January 2008 \“Eligibility Guidance for School Meals” Policy Manual, http://www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/cns/pdf/EligibilityManualforSchoolMeals.pdf
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.ade.state.az.us/health-safety/cnp/nslp/
Forms: http://www.ade.state.az.us/health-safety/cnp/nslp/parentforms/2010-2011/default.asp
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, parent letter, instructions, disclosure forms, verification notices, notice of expiration of temporary benefits
- English and Spanish
- Sample public release
Policy Memorandum: http://www.ade.state.az.us/health-safety/cnp/nslp/Memos/
- List of memos by year and topic
- Newsletters
- Includes link to policy guidance manual: https://www.ade.az.gov/health-safety/cnp/nslp/GuidanceManual/
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://cnn.k12.ar.us/
Forms: http://cnn.k12.ar.us/documents/forms.aspx
- Application, parent letter, instructions, verification notices, notice of direct certification
- English and Spanish
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/
Forms: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/eligmaterials.asp
- Flexible school year
- Application, parent letter, notice of expiration of temporary benefits, notification of approval/denial, notification of direct certification, notice of expiration of temporary benefits, verification notices
- Sample Public Release
- English and Spanish
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.cde.state.co.us/index_nutrition.htm, http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdenutritran/nutriprograms.htm
Forms: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdenutritran/nutriformsbook.htm
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, instructions, parent letter, income eligibility guidelines, notification of approval/denial, direct certification instructions, disclosure form
- Sample public release
- English and Spanish (scroll to end of packet), information that USDA has translations in other languages
Policy Memorandum: http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdenutritran/nutripdfdocs.htm
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2626&q=320676
Forms: http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2626&q=320680
- For school year 2010-11
- Application, instructions, parent letter (meals and milk), disclosure letter, notification of approval/denial, health insurance form, notification of direct certification, information on SNAP
- English, with link to USDA applications in 26 languages
- Sample public release
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.doe.k12.de.us/infosuites/students_family/nutrition/
Forms: http://www.doe.k12.de.us/infosuites/students_family/nutrition/
- For school year 2010-11
- Application
- English and Spanish
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://osse.dc.gov/seo/cwp/view,a,1224,q,536434.asp
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.fldoe.org/FNM/natlschoollunch/
Forms: http://fnmcnpwebprd.fldoe.org/floridaprd/FormDownload/FormDownloadMngr.asp?Mode=NSFD
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notification of direct certification, notification of approval/denial, verification notice, disclosure form
- Sample public release
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/fbo_nutrition.aspx
Forms: http://www.doe.k12.ga.us/fbo_nutrition.aspx?PageReq=FBOPricePolicy
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notification of direct certification, notification of approval/denial, verification notice, disclosure form
- Sample public release
- Relevant policy documents
- English and Spanish
Back to table.
National School Lunch Program Homepage: http://ohcnp.k12.hi.us/programs/lunch.html
School Breakfast Homepage: http://ohcnp.k12.hi.us/programs/breakfast.html
Forms: http://ohcnp.k12.hi.us/programs/lunch.html (under “Forms”)
- School year 2008-2009
- USDA model application, parent letter, instructions, disclosure forms, verification notices
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/cnp/nslp/
Forms: http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/cnp/nslp/freeReducedApp.htm
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notification of approval/denial, modified application and instructions
- English and Spanish
- Verification and direct certification information for sponsors
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/nutrition/htmls/national_school_lunch.htm
Forms: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/nutrition/htmls/forms_sbn.htm (under “Household Eligibility Information” click “Household Eligibility Applications and Documents”)
- For school year 2010-11
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notification of approval/denial, disclosure form, notice of direct certification, notice of expiration of temporary benefits, health insurance flyer, verification notices, notification of the ending of the carryover period
- Sample public release
- English and Spanish, with link to USDA applications in 26 languages
Policy Memorandum: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/nutrition/pdf/sp38_2009.pdf,
“Extending Categorical Eligibility to Additional Children in a Household”
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.doe.state.in.us/food/schoolnutrition/welcome.html
Forms: http://www.doe.state.in.us/food/schoolnutrition/cnpbenefitforms.html
- For school year 2010-11
- Application, parent letter, instructions, notification of approval/denial, notification of direct certification, notification of temporary approval, disclosure form
- Free milk application materials
- English and Spanish, with link to USDA applications in 26 languages
Policy Memorandum: http://scnweb.doe.state.in.us/Nutrition/external_forms/SPFandRInfo.doc ,
“Free and Reduced Price Notes”
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=369&Itemid=1326
Forms: under link above, “Resources for Administrators”
- For school year 2010-11
- Application, instructions, parent letter, Medicaid information form, notification of approval/denial, waiver of confidentiality, verification notice
- Sample public release
- English and Spanish
Policy Memos: http://www.doe.in.gov/food/schoolnutrition/programinstruct.html
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.kn-eat.org/SNP/SNP_Menus/SNP_Home.htm#top
Forms: http://www.kn-eat.org/SNP/SNP_Menus/SNP_Admin_Program_Renewal.htm
- For school year 2010-11
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notification of approval/denial, waiver of confidentiality, direct certification notice
- English and Spanish (available at: http://www.kn-eat.org/SNP/SNP_Menus/SNP_Admin_Foreign_Language_Translations.htm )
Back to table.
National School Lunch Program Homepage: http://scn.ky.gov/nslp.htm
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.doe.state.la.us/offices/nutritionsupport/nslp.html
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.maine.gov/education/sfs/
Forms: http://www.maine.gov/education/forms/childnutrition/agreeappl/agreeapplforms.htm
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notification of approval/denial, disclosure form, verification form packet
- English and French and link to USDA applications in 26 languages (Somali packet links to USDA web site)
- Policy statement for free and reduced-price benefits
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/schoolnutrition/school_lunch.htm
Back to table.
School Lunch Program Homepage: http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/nprograms/nslp.html
School Breakfast Homepage: http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/nprograms/sbp/
Forms: http://www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/free_red/
- For school year 2010 – 2011
- USDA model application, parent letter, instructions, disclosure forms, verification notices, notification of approval/denial, notice of direct certification
- Hearing procedure form
- Healthcare flyer
- Link to USDA applications in 26 languages
Back to table.
Nutrition Homepage: http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-6530_6569_29919---,00.html
Forms: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/Family_App_Instructionsandform4458c023_32766_7.pdf
- For school year 2008-09
- Application, instructions, parent letter, approval/denial form, disclosure form, income eligibility guidelines
- Sample public release
- School meals flyer: http://www.michigan.gov/documents/school_meals_fact_sheet_final_51835_7.pdf
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage:
http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/Learning_Support/FNS/SNP/index.html
- For school year 2010-11
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notice of approval/denial, procedures for school nutrition programs meal benefits
- English, Arabic, Hmong, Khmer-Cambodian, Laotian, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Vietnamese, with link to USDA web site for other translations
- Sample media release
- Various policy statements
Back to table.
National School Lunch Homepage: http://www.healthyschoolsms.org/nutrition_services/nslp.htm
School Breakfast Homepage: http://www.healthyschoolsms.org/nutrition_services/nsbp.htm
Forms: http://www.healthyschoolsms.org/nutrition_services/MealApplications.htm
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, instructions, parent letter, disclosure forms, verification forms, notice of approval/denial, notice of direct certification
- Link to USDA applications in 26 languages
Back to table.
National School Lunch Homepage: http://dese.mo.gov/divadm/food/Lunch_Program.html
School Breakfast Homepage: http://dese.mo.gov/divadm/food/Breakfast_Program.html
Forms: http://dese.mo.gov/divadm/food/PDF/direct_cert05_06.pdf
- For school year 2005-06
- Application, instructions, parent letter, direct certification eligibility letter, notification of approval/denial, disclosure form, health insurance form
- Link to USDA applications in 26 languages
- Sample public release
- Verification materials are from 2010 school year ( http://dese.mo.gov/divadm/food/VerificationInfoIndex.html under “verification letter”)
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.opi.mt.gov/schoolfood/index.html
Forms: http://www.opi.mt.gov/Programs/SchoolPrograms/School_Nutrition/index.html#gpm1_6 (under “Free and Reduced School Meals”
- For school year 2010-11
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notification of change in eligibility letter, notification of direct certification, notification of results of verification eligibility letter, verification notice
- Sample public release
School Nutrition Flyer: http://www.opi.mt.gov/pdf/SchoolFood/10SNPBrochure.pdf
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.education.ne.gov/ns/nslp/overview.htm
Forms: http://www.education.ne.gov/ns/forms/nslpforms/index.htm
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, instruction, parent letter, approval/denial letter, disclosure form, verification notice, notice of change in benefit, verification results letter
- USDA model packet in Spanish for flexible year and link to USDA application in 26 languages.
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.doe.nv.gov/CNSH.htm, http://www.doe.nv.gov/NSLP.htm
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.education.nh.gov/program/nutrition/school_lunch.htm
Forms:http://www.education.nh.gov/program/nutrition/nslp_application.htm, http://www.education.nh.gov/program/nutrition/verification.htm
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, parent letter, instructions, notification of approval/denial, disclosure forms
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/fn/childadult/school.html
School Lunch Homepage: http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/fn/childadult/school_lunch.html
School Breakfast Homepage: http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/fn/childadult/school_breakfast.html
Forms: http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/applic/forms/ (click on “Food and Nutrition,” scroll down to “Free/Reduced Price Application Determination Forms”)
- For school year 2010-2011
- Letter of approval/denial, letter of direct certification, disclosure form
- English and Spanish
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.ped.state.nm.us/nutrition/index.html
Forms: (Materials have been removed from the internet since reviewed.)
- For school year 2010-2011
- USDA model application, parent letter, instructions, disclosure form, notification of approval/denial, verification notice, direct certification forms (household materials begin on page 9 of Word document)
- Sample public release
- English, with link to USDA web site with application in 26 languages
Policy memos and program statistics: http://www.ped.state.nm.us/nutrition/index.html (follow links on left hand side for documents)
Back to table.
Child Nutrition Homepage: http://portal.nysed.gov/portal/page?_pageid=74,1&_dad=pref&_schema=PORTAL30
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/childnutrition/programs/
Forms: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/childnutrition/application/
- For school year 2010-11
- Application, instructions, parent letter, disclosure forms, verification notice, notification of approval/denial, notification of direct certification
- Link to USDA web site with application in 26 languages
Back to table.
National School Lunch Homepage: http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/child/snp/nslp/index.shtm
School Breakfast Homepage: http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/child/snp/sbp/index.shtm
Forms: http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/child/snp/tools/index.shtm
- For School Year 2010-2011
- Application, parent letter, notification of approval/denial, notification of change in benefits, verification notice
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEPrimary.aspx?Page=2&TopicID=485&TopicRelationID=828
- For school year 2010-11
- USDA model application, parent letter, instructions, notification of approval/denial, verification package, notification of predetermined eligibility, disclosure forms, direct certification packet
- Link to USDA applications in 26 languages
- Health program flyer
- Sample public release
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.sde.state.ok.us/Schools/ChildNut/default.html
School Lunch Homepage: http://www.sde.state.ok.us/Schools/ChildNut/lunch.html
School Breakfast Homepage: http://www.sde.state.ok.us/Schools/ChildNut/breakfast.html
Forms: http://www.sde.state.ok.us/Schools/ChildNut/documents.html (under “Policy Statement/Attachments”)
- Flexible school year
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notice of approval/denial, verification notice, direct certification notice
- Sample public release
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=207
Forms: http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=1997, https://district.ode.state.or.us/apps/frlapp/ (online application)
- For school year 2010-11
- Application, instructions, parent letter, verification materials, disclosure forms
- English, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Vietnamese
- Online application
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pa_food_and_nutrition_programs/18762
School Lunch Homepage: http://www.education.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/national_school_lunch/7487
School Breakfast Homepage: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/pa_food_and_nutrition_programs/18762/pa_food_and_nutrition_-_school_breakfast_program/646216
Forms: https://www.humanservices.state.pa.us/COMPASS.Web/CMHOM.aspx (online application)
- Click “Apply for Benefits” on the left hand side and select Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications once in the system
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.ride.ri.gov/Finance/Nutrition/
School Lunch Homepage: http://www.ride.ri.gov/Finance/Nutrition/national.aspx
Back to table.
School Lunch Homepage: http://ed.sc.gov/agency/Innovation-and-Support/Food-Services-And-Nutrition/old/sfsn/pages/nslp.html
School Breakfast Homepage: http://ed.sc.gov/agency/Innovation-and-Support/Food-Services-And-Nutrition/old/sfsn/pages/sbp.html
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://doe.sd.gov/cans/nslp.asp
Forms: http://doe.sd.gov/cans/nslp.asp (click on “Program Attachments” under “2010-11 Renewal Agencies”)
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notification of approval/denial
- Sample public release
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://snp.state.tn.us/tndoe/ (select “Tennessee SNP” on top menu)
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.squaremeals.org/fn/render/parent/channel/0,1253,2348_2362_0_0,00.html
School Lunch Homepage: http://www.squaremeals.org/fn/render/channel/items/0,1249,2348_2363_0_0,00.html
School Breakfast Homepage: http://www.squaremeals.org/fn/render/channel/items/0,1249,2348_2364_0_0,00.html
Forms: http://www.squaremeals.org/fn/render/channel/items/0,1249,2348_2439_0_0,00.html
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notification of predetermined eligibility (migrant, Head Start, and direct certification), verification notice (Spanish only)
- Sample public release
- English and Spanish
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.schools.utah.gov/cnp/
School Lunch Homepage: http://www.schools.utah.gov/cnp/National-School-Lunch-Program.aspx
School Breakfast Homepage: http://www.schools.utah.gov/cnp/National-School-Breakfast-Program.aspx
Forms: http://www.schools.utah.gov/cnp/National-School-Lunch-Program/applications.aspx
- We reviewed the following forms for the 2010-2011 school year: application, instructions, parent letter, disclosure forms, verification notice, direct certification forms, fair hearing form
- School Year 2011-2012 application now available in English and Spanish as well as instructions, parent letter, disclosure forms, verification notice, direct certification forms, fair hearing form
- Link to USDA web site with application in 26 languages
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_nutrition/school_nutrition.html
Forms: http://education.vermont.gov/new/html/pgm_nutrition/school_nutrition/program_info.html
- For school year 2010-2011
- Application, instructions, parent letter, notification approval/denial, notification of pre-approval (SNAP), notification of previous year’s enrollment expiration, direct certification notice, verification notice, certification and benefits issuance letters
- Link to USDA web site with application in 26 languages
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/support/nutrition/programs/index.shtml
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://www.k12.wa.us/ChildNutrition/Programs/NSLBP/default.aspx
- Application materials coming soon.
- Policy memos: http://www.k12.wa.us/ChildNutrition/Programs/NSLBP/Bulletins.aspx
- Training materials on NSLP: http://www.k12.wa.us/ChildNutrition/Programs/NSLBP/TrainingMaterials.aspx
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://wvde.state.wv.us/nutrition/snp.html
Forms: http://wvde.state.wv.us/ocn-download/Forms/NSLP/2010/FreeRed/
- For school year 2010-11
- Application, parent letter, instructions, notification of approval/denial, income eligibility guidelines
Back to table.
School Meals Homepage: http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/
School Lunch Homepage: http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/nslp1.html
School Breakfast Program: http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/sbp1.html
Forms: http://dpi.wi.gov/fns/fincou1.html
- For school year 2010-11
- USDA model application, instructions, parent letter, notification of approval/denial, notification of direct certification, verification materials, disclosure forms
- Sample public release
- English and Spanish, with link to USDA site for application in 26 languages
Back to table.
School Nutrition Homepage: http://edu.wyoming.gov/Programs/nutrition.aspx
School Lunch and Breakfast Homepage: http://edu.wyoming.gov/Programs/nutrition/national_school_lunch_program.aspx
Back to table.
To read the full text of this report, click here.
End Notes
[1] Any adult in the household may complete an application on behalf of a child in the household. There is no requirement that the adult be a parent or legal guardian of the child. For the sake of brevity, this paper refers to the adult completing the application as the parent.
[2] See P.L. 111-296, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-111s3307enr/pdf/BILLS-111s3307enr.pdf .
[3] The legal responsibility for developing applications and other household materials falls on local educational agencies, although many states provide model materials or approve local forms. This paper uses the term “school districts” to refer to local educational agencies.
[4] USDA’s prototype materials for school year 2011-2012 are available in English at http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/frp/2011_application.pdf.
[5] See http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/frp/frp.process.htm. Translations are currently available in Arabic, Cambodian, Chinese (Mandarin), Farsi, French, Greek, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Kurdish, Laotian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Samoan, Serbo-Croatian, Somali, Spanish, Sudanese, Tagalog, Thai, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
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