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NEWS RELEASE: Public Media Release for Free and Reduced-Price Meals School Year 2018–19

NEWS RELEASE: Public Media Release for Free and Reduced-Price Meals School Year 2018–19
Posted on 08/28/2018

San Diego Unified School District

School Year 2018-19

Public Media Release for Free and Reduced-Price Meals

San Diego Unified announces its policy to serve nutritious meals every school day under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Effective July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019, students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the household income is less than or equal to the federal guidelines.

Free Lunch ReleaseApplications have been sent to all households with a letter about the free and reduced-price meal program. Households that want to apply for meal benefits must fill out one application for all students in the household and give it to the school office or the food and nutrition office at 6735 Gifford Way, Room 5 San Diego, CA 92111. For a simple and secure method to apply, use our online application at www.sandiegounified.org/food. Contact the food and nutrition office at 858-627-7328 for help filling out the application. The district will let you know if your application is approved or denied.

The district has more than 100 schools that fall under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) or Provision II. Households with students who attend a CEP or Provision II school do not have to turn in an application as all students attending those schools are automatically eligible to receive a nutritious breakfast and lunch every day at no cost.

Households may turn in an application at any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now, but your household income goes down, household size goes up, or a household member starts receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR, you may turn in an application at that time. Information given on the application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school officials. The last four digits of the Social Security number from any adult household or checking that you do not have a Social Security number is required if you include income on the application.

Households do not need to turn in an application if the household receives a notification letter saying that all students automatically qualify for free meals because a household member receives benefits from CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR. Similarly, students who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, and children enrolled in their school's Head Start program are eligible for free meals automatically and households do not need to submit an application. Contact school officials if any child in the household is not on the notification letter. The household must let school officials know if they do not want to receive free or reduced-price meals.

Households that receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals by filling out an application.

Foster children are eligible for free meals and may be included as a household member if the foster family chooses to also apply for the non-foster children on the same application - including foster children as a household member may help the non-foster children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. If the non-foster children are not eligible, this does not keep foster children from receiving free meals.

Your child's eligibility status from last school year will continue into the new school year for up to 30 school days or until the school processes your new application or your child is otherwise certified for free or reduced-price meals. After the 30 school days, your child will have to pay full price for meals, unless the household receives a notification letter for free or reduced-price meals. School officials do not have to send reminder or expired eligibility notices.

If you do not agree with the decision or results of verification, you may discuss it with school officials. You also have the right to a fair hearing, which may be requested by calling 858-627-7316.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.