Free & Reduced Price Meals

 

2012-2013 School Year
Free & Reduced Price Meals Application
Free & Reduced Price Meals Application (Spanish)

Meal Program Letter
Meal Program Letter (Spanish)

Frequently Asked Questions

Dear Parent/Guardian:

In accordance with the provisions of Section 9 of the National School Lunch Act, free and reduced price breakfasts and lunches are available to Islip Public School children whose parents or families are determined by the School Food Authority to be unable to pay the full price of the lunch. Eligibility for free and reduced price breakfast and lunch is determined on the basis of certain minimum income criteria established by New York State. School lunch prices for a complete lunch for 2011-12 will be $2.00 at the Wing, Sherwood and Commack Elementary Schools, $2.25 at the Middle School and $2.50 at the High School. Pre-payment option: Prepay in the amount of $30.00 and receive a free bonus lunch. Prepay and save! If you select the prepay option, please make checks payable to: Islip School Lunch Fund, write your child’s name and teacher on the memo line of the check, and place payment in an envelope with your child’s name, grade, teacher, and account number (if assigned one) on the front of the envelope. We encourage all families to use our PayPAMS system to make online payments for meals. Go to www.PayPAMS.com or the Islip School District website @ islipufsd.org, look under Our Schools, click on School Lunch Program, and then click PayPAMS. Breakfast is for everyone! Parents are encouraged to take advantage of the convenient and nutritious breakfast program provided at all schools. The cost is an affordable $1.00 per day at the middle and elementary schools. Breakfast is also available at the High School for $1.25 for students. Check times of service printed on school menus.

Department of Food and Nutrition
Children need healthy meals to learn. Islip School District offers healthy meals every school day to all students. Islip School District participates in the Free and Reduced Price meal Program: To participate in this program a NEW 2011-2012 Free and Reduced Price School Meal Application and Consent Form must be submitted for each household to the Department of Food and Nutrition, 215 Main Street, Islip, New York 11751. A new application must be submitted each year.

Income Eligibility Guidelines for Free and Reduced Price Food Stamp/TANF/FDPIR Households:  Households which currently include children who receive Food Stamps or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) must complete an application listing the child's name, a food stamp, TANF, or FDPIR case number and the signature of an adult household member, or provide a Direct Certification letter from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.  Children in the household with the same case number may be included on the same application.  Separate applications are required for children in the same household with different case numbers.  If the family does not list a food stamp, TANF, or FDPIR case number for all children for whom they are applying, then the application must contain all the information as required for “other households” as described below.

Other Households:  Households with incomes the same or below the amount of money listed above for their family size may be eligible for and are urged to apply for free and/or reduced price meals (or free milk).  They may do so by filling in the application forms sent home with a letter to parents.  Additional copies are available at the principal's office in each school.  Applications may be submitted any time during the school year to Carol Ann Grodski, MS, RD, CD/N, Food Service Director, Islip School District, 215 Main Street, Islip, New York, 11751

The information provided on the application will be confidential and will be used for determining eligibility.  The names and eligibility status of participants may also be used for the allocation of funds to federal education programs such as Title I and National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), State health or State education programs, provided the State agency or local education agency administers the programs, and for federal, State or local means-tested nutrition programs with eligibility standards comparable to the NSLP.  Eligibility information may also be released to programs authorized under the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) or the Child Nutrition Act (CNA).  The release of information to any program or entity not specifically authorized by the NSLA will require a written consent statement from the parent or guardian.

The school district does, however, have the right to verify at any time during the school year the information on the application.  If a parent does not give the school this information, the child/children will no longer be able to receive free or reduced price meals (free milk).

Foster children may also be eligible for these benefits.  A separate application for a foster child is no longer necessary. Foster children may be listed on the family application which must contain the foster child's name, personal use income.

Under the provisions of the policy, the designated official will review applications and determine eligibility.  If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the designated official, he/she may make a request either orally or in writing for a hearing to appeal the decision Dr. Linda Lippman, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services, whose address is215 Main Street, Islip, New York, 11751 has been designated as the Hearing Official.  Hearing procedures are outlined in the policy.  However, prior to initiating the hearing procedure, the parent or School Food Authority may request a conference to provide an opportunity for the parent and official to discuss the situation, present information, and obtain an explanation of the data submitted in the application or the decisions rendered.  The request for a conference shall not in any way prejudice or diminish the right to a fair hearing.

Only complete applications can be approved.  This includes complete and accurate information regarding: the Food Stamp, TANF, or FDPIR case number; the names of all household members; on an income application the social security number of the person who signs the form or an indication that the adult does not have one, and the amount and source of income received  by each household member.  In addition, the parent or guardian must sign the application form, certifying the information is true and correct.

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 discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964.  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

A complete copy of this policy is on file in the office of the School Food Authority District Administrator where it may be reviewed by any interested persons.

To find out how to apply for food stamps or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 1-800-342-3009.

Free and Reduced Price Meals
2011-12 Income Eligibility Guideline Income Chart

Total Family Size	Annual	Month	Twice/Month	Every 2 Weeks	Weekly
1	20,147	1,679	840	775	388
2	27,214	2,268	1,134	1,047	524
3	34,281	2,857	1,429	1,319	660
4	41,348	3,446	1,723	1,591	796
5	48,415	4,035	2,018	1,863	932
6	55,482	4,624	2,312	2,134	1,067
7	62,549	5,213	2,607	2,406	1,203
8	69,616	5,802	2,901	2,678	1,339
For each additional household member, add	7,067	589	295	272	136

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 one application for your household and return it to the designated office.  If you now receive food stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) for any children, or participate in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), the application must include the children's names, the household food stamp, TANF or FDPIR case number and the signature of an adult household member.  All children should be listed on the same application.  If you do not list a food stamp, TANF or FDPIR case 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 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 the last four digits of that adult's social security number, or check the box if the adult does not have a social security number.  An application that is not complete cannot be approved. Contact your local Department of Social Services for your food stamp or TANF case number or complete the income portion of the application.

Reporting Changes:  The benefits 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.  

Income Exclusions: The value of any child care provided or arranged, or any amount received as payment for such child care or reimbursement for costs incurred for such care under the Child Care Development (Block Grant) Fund should not be considered as income for this program.    

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 discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964.  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.