Students Eligible for Free, Reduced Price Meals, Milk

2008-09 income guidelines announced by Maine DOE

August 25, 2008

AUGUSTA – Family size and income guidelines for free and reduced price meals and for free milk in Maine schools for the 2008 – 2009 school year have been announced by Education Commissioner Susan A. Gendron from information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.

This school year, students from families whose annual income is equal to or less than the federal income guidelines will be eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk for kindergarten students at schools offering milk programs.

The 2008 – 2009 school year income guidelines are:

	FREE MEALS OR FREE MILK Income		REDUCED PRICE MEALS Income
Family Size (include adults)	Yearly	Monthly	Yearly	Monthly
1	13,520	1,127	19,240	1,604
2	18,200	1,517	25,900	2,159
3	22,880	1,907	32,560	2,714
4	27,560	2,297	39,220	3,269
5	32,240	2,687	45,880	3,824
6	36,920	3,077	52,540	4,379
7	41,600	3,467	59,200	4,934
8	46,280	3,857	65,860	5,489
For each additional family member add:
	4,680	390	6,660	555

Applications will be sent home with each Maine school child on the first day of school as part of a letter from the school describing the nutrition programs offered by that school. Information provided on the application to schools is confidential.

In certain cases, foster children are eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk. For assistance in completing the application for a foster child, the foster parent should contact the school.

Applications may be completed and sent to a child’s school at any time during the school year.

Parents filing an application with the school will be notified of the outcome of their application for eligibility. If a family is dissatisfied with the decision of the school official, the parent may make a request – either orally or in writing – to the superintendent of schools or administrator of the private school for a hearing to appeal the decision. Each school has copies of the written hearing procedure that may be reviewed by any interested party. Federal and state rules prevent discrimination because of a child’s race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Anyone who believes that they have been discriminated against should contact Commissioner Gendron or write to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250.

For further information contact: Walter Beesley, Child Nutrition Services, Maine Department of Education, 23 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0023; Telephone (207) 624-6875 or e-mail: walter.beesley@maine.gov.

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David Connerty-Marin, Director of Communications, Maine Department of Education 207-624-6880
Walter Beesley, Director of Child Nutrition Services, Maine Department of Education 207-624-6875

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Students Eligible for Free, Reduced Price Meals, Milk