Families Required to Complete Application for HISD’s Free and Reduced Price Meals Program

Application available online and at all HISD campuses for 2013-2014 academic year

Families must complete an application for their children to qualify for free-and reduced-price meals and ensure their children start the school year with access to healthy meals.

Families can fill out their application at any HISD campus, at the HISD Food Services Support Facility (6801 Bennington Street), or online at www.mealapps.houstonisd.org.

“We want to ensure all children start their academic year with access to healthy meals,” HISD Food Services Senior Manager Brian Giles said.  “So we urge all families to submit the application in order to qualify, even if they already did last year.”

HISD will also be sending letters to students’ homes explaining eligibility benefits and any actions parents should to take to apply for these benefits. Hard copies are available at each campus and at HISD Food Services as well.

This releases serves as the announcement of the 2013-2014 HISD Policy Statement for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the attached current income eligibility.  The policy statement may be reviewed by anyone upon request and is kept on site at each school/site and the Food Service Administration office.

Criteria for Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits

The following criteria will be used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits:

Income

Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels

Categorical or Automatic Eligibility

Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Program Participant

Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster

Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start

Income Eligibility

For those households that quality for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must fill out free and reduced-price meal application and return it to your child’s school. Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information:

  • Names of all household members
  • Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member
  • Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for “I do not have a Social Security number”
  • Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct.

Categorical or Program Eligibility

HISD is working with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible. HISD will notify the households of these children that they do not need to complete an application. Any household that does not receive a letter and feels it should have should contact HISD/Food Services, Student Eligibility and Accountability Department at 713-491-5944.

Any household that wishes to decline benefits should contact HISD/Food Services, Student Eligibility and Accountability Department at 713-491-5944.

Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may also be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year.

Determining Eligibility

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, the HISD Office of Student Eligibility & Accountability will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Official’s eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Sr. Administrator, Food Services, 6801 Bennington St., Houston, TX 77028, Phone 713-491-5853.

Unexpected Circumstances

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the attached current income eligibility guidelines.

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