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Watch a video on how to apply for Free and Reduced-Price meals.
Here is the Madison Metropolitan School District policy for children unable to pay the full price of school meals served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program.
The following household size and income criteria will be used for determining eligibility. Children from families whose current income is at or below the levels shown may be eligible for Free OR Reduced-price School Meals.
The applicant is determined to be eligible for Free OR Reduced-price Meals if the household income is at or below the amount in the following table.
| Household Size | Yearly | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $ 18,889 | $ 1,575 | $ 364 |
| 2 | 25,327 | 2,111 | 488 |
| 3 | 31,765 | 2,648 | 611 |
| 4 | 38,203 | 3,184 | 735 |
| 5 | 44,641 | 3,721 | 859 |
| 6 | 51,079 | 4,257 | 983 |
| 7 | 57,517 | 4,764 | 1,107 |
| 8 | 63,955 | 5,330 | 1,230 |
| For each additional family member add | 6,438 | 537 | 124 |
Free and Reduced-price School Meal application forms are distributed at enrollment and/or are being sent to all homes with a notice to parents/guardians (household adults). To apply for Free or Reduced-price School Meals, a household adult must complete the application and return it to the school. Additional copies of applications are available in each school office. The information the household adult provides on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by program officials. Applications may be submitted any time during the year. The information provided by the household adult on the application is confidential and will be used only for purposes of determining eligibility and verifying data.
The district office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party. Any questions regarding the policy should be directed to the school principal.
Not all W-2 Benefit Programs qualify a student for school meals; some W-2 program recipients must qualify for school meals through household gross income. Only students receiving Food Stamps or W-2 Cash Benefits should provide their open (active) case number (not Quest Card or Social Security Numbers). Households that currently receive Food Stamps or W-2 Cash Benefits for their children should list the names of all district students on the application (Part 1) with the case number behind each name. An adult household member must sign his/her name and provide his/her Social Security number. After the application is completed it should be returned to the school office. Incomplete applications can not be processed.
For households not receiving Food Stamps or W-2 Cash Benefits, the household must provide the following information on the application: Names of all household members; the gross income (before any deductions) received by each household member, time frame how often it is received, and the type of income it is (such as wages, child support, SSI, etc.) The adult household member must provide their Social Security number and signature to certify that the information provided is correct. If the signing adult does not have a Social Security number, there is a box provided on the application which must be checked if applicable "I do not have a Social Security Number".
Under the provisions of the School Agency's policy for free or reduced-price school meals, the school Principal will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent or guardian (household adult) is dissatisfied with the ruling of the official, he/she may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. If the parent or guardian (household adult) wishes to make a formal appeal, he/she may make a request either orally or in writing to: Frank Kelly, Director of Food Service, 4711 Pflaum Road, Madison, WI 53718-6765, 204-4001. If a hearing is needed to appeal the decision, the policy contains an outline of the hearing procedure.
If a household member becomes unemployed or, if the household size changes, the family should contact the school. Such changes may make the household eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the household income falls at or below the levels shown above, and they may reapply at that time.
Foster Children and Group Home Children are considered a household of One and must qualify on their gross monthly Personal Use Income. Each Foster child or Group Home Child (student) must have a separate application completed for them (no exceptions). Foster Parents or Group Home Official should complete the application and sign it providing either their Social Security Number or that of the student (must indicate in writing if it is the student's number). Kindship Care Children may not qualify as a Foster Child; for additional information call the student's school.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations have provided options for school food authorities to implement the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and under the option selected by our school district, USDA allows a waiver from using weighted averages to analyze the meal pattern. Instead our district uses a simple average.
In the operation of the Child Nutrition Programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, national origin, age or disability. If any member of a household believes they have been discriminated against, they should write to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC 20250.