National School Lunch & Breakfast Programs Questions & Answers
Q: Are all students allowed to participate in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program?
Yes. All students may participate. Students may, however, participate at different benefit levels.
Q: How is a student’s benefit level determined?
Child Nutrition provides application forms to all schools at the beginning of each school year. Applications are mailed in August to all households of students who are registered in CMS. Students may apply for meal benefits at any time during the school year.
The Child Nutrition Office reviews applications and eligibility determination is based on USDA guidelines. Students may also be granted free meal benefits through the process of Direct Certification. Direct Certification is a process which allows CMS to obtain documentation from the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services (DSS) to determine the children who are members of a household currently certified to receive food stamps or TANF benefits and are therefore eligible for free meal benefits.
Q: Must a child approved for meal benefits by Direct Certification be given a meal application?
Yes. All are to receive a meal application.
Q: Are students allowed unlimited portions of food at breakfast & lunch?
No. Students at each benefit level are entitled to one meal for breakfast and one meal for lunch of the Offer Versus Serve meal patterns. Additional food items or second meals may be purchased at a la carte prices.
Students may select one (1) entrée, two (2) sides, and milk to be considered a complete school lunch. The minimum requirement for a lunch meal is an entrée and one additional side. The additional item may either be a side item or milk.
Q: If a student consistently does not bring meal money, may the student be placed on free meal benefits?
No. Free or reduced price meal benefits are to be granted through the appropriate meal benefit application process or Direct Certification.
Q: What can be done if a student does not apply for meal benefits and school officials know that the student is eligible?
A school official may complete an application for a student known to be eligible if the household fails to apply. When exercising this option, the school official must complete an application based on the best household size and income information available and make an eligibility determination. The source of the information MUST be noted on the application. Names of household members, social security numbers, and signature of an adult household member need not be secured. These applications should be excluded from verification.
The household must be notified that the student has been certified and is receiving free or reduced price meal benefits. This option is intended for limited use in individual situations and must not be used to make eligibility determinations for groups of students.
Q: May the information on meal applications be shared with programs or departments other than Child Nutrition?
No. Not unless the parent has signed a waiver of confidentiality for the specific purpose. The participants' names, eligibility status and other information provided on the application or obtained through direct certification or verification may be disclosed to certain other Federal, State or local agencies as authorized by the National School Lunch Act.
Q: Are students entitled to meal benefits at the beginning of the school year?
Yes. Those students who were receiving meal benefits at the end of the previous school year may continue to receive benefits until a new application is processed. If the student does not reapply or is found to be no longer eligible, the student must begin paying full price for meals. All applications will be processed by Thursday, October 6, 2011. Students who do not have an approved meal application on file will need money for meals beginning Friday, October 7, 2011. Students who paid full price or who were not a student in the previous school year must continue to pay full price until a meal application is approved.
Q: If a student applies for meal benefits after the last day of the current school year, must the application be processed?
Yes. Applications will be processed until July 1 of each year.
Q: Must old meal benefit applications be kept on file?
Yes. Applications are federal records and must be kept for three years and three months.
Q: If a class decides to have a Pizza Party instead of eating in the cafeteria, is this legal?
No. Federal and state regulations prohibit this. Even if the food is donated and no child is charged for the meal. Child Nutrition must operate all food and beverage services during lunch hours. Contact Child Nutrition for planning special event meals.
Q: What is verification?
Verification is confirmation of eligibility for free and reduced price meals under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. This is an annual process that begins October 1 and must be completed by November 15 of each year.
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 Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.