Maine School Guidelines For Free and Reduced Price Meals and Free Milk

MAINE SCHOOL GUIDELINES FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS AND FREE MILK

AUGUSTA – Family size and income guidelines for free and reduced price meals and for free milk in Maine schools for the 2009 – 2010 School Year have been announced by the Department of 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 shown below will be eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk for kindergarten students, or free milk at schools offering only a milk program.

The 2009 – 2010 School Year income guidelines are:

A family’s application must include the names of all adult household members, their total monthly income by source, and the signature of an adult.  The social security number of the signing adult must be given.  A family or a child receiving Food Stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) should list only the name of the child and the case number, and sign the application without completing the income portion of the application.  Some households, those already approved for another United States Department of Agriculture benefit program, will soon receive a letter stating their child(ren) has been approved for free meals or free milk.  A copy of this letter may be submitted to the school.

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.

All applications are subject to selection for verification.  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