Does anyone receive reduced lunch price at school?

[RetroBaby]

We just had to show a pay stub. It's a HUGE HUGE help! I'm looking foward to having 3 kids get 40 cent lunches in the fall.

[ouchienurse]

Originally Posted by luvsviola Solely income based. And, even if you don't intend to eat the lunch, please apply anyway. Federal Title I funds are given based on free/reduced lunch numbers, so not applying when you qualify hurts your school. The district I teach in has 80% of the elementary students qualifying, but many of the HS kids didn't bother to fill it out and pay for their lunches using money from part time jobs, which kept the school from qualifying for Title I funds last year. I know many mamas on here don't have their kiddos eat the lunch, but it really helps the school if you apply anyway.

This. Last year was DD's first year and they begged everyone to fill it out, even if you didn't qualify. Enough people did and the whole school received free lunch based on the # that did qualify. It was fabulous not to have to worry about it

Sent from my iPhone using DS Forum

[Nerissa]

Originally Posted by luvsviola Solely income based. And, even if you don't intend to eat the lunch, please apply anyway. Federal Title I funds are given based on free/reduced lunch numbers, so not applying when you qualify hurts your school. The district I teach in has 80% of the elementary students qualifying, but many of the HS kids didn't bother to fill it out and pay for their lunches using money from part time jobs, which kept the school from qualifying for Title I funds last year. I know many mamas on here don't have their kiddos eat the lunch, but it really helps the school if you apply anyway.

This exactly--

The district I work for is over 80% free/reduced also.

[z2akids]

I am curious. I often read, you should apply even if you don't qualify. What is the reason behind this? Does the school receive some benefit simply from the application process? Looking at the income levels, we don't qualify, so why put our finances out there?

[luvsviola]

Originally Posted by z2akids I am curious. I often read, you should apply even if you don't qualify. What is the reason behind this? Does the school receive some benefit simply from the application process? Looking at the income levels, we don't qualify, so why put our finances out there?

If you know you don't qualify, no, there is no reason to do so. But if s high percentage of the kids apply and do qualify, the school gets extra money for remediation/reading and math programs.

[z2akids]

So, more trying to catch people who don't realize they are close to qualifying? That makes sense. I just never understood if there was some benefit to the school for everyone to apply. It seemed like a waste of time for me to fill out thr form and for someone to look at it.

[Nerissa]

Yeah-- it is to catch those that are very close. So a person may not qualify for free but does for reduced. Each person that qualifies adds to the %. If the % is high enough then the whole school can get free lunches even if a few do not qualifiy.

We have about 6 schools that are completely free and alot more that are close.

It also helps us with our summer feeding program. If the school in the area is a certain percentage then we can have a summer feeding site at the school or a near by park where kids 18 and under can get a free lunch.

[superbeans]

My son got it automatically when he was our foster child, but now that he's adopted we don't qualify. I guess as a foster child it was considered he had no income, now our income counts. But yes definitely fill it out even if you don't plan to use it! We usually packed his lunch back then, but always submitted the paperwork anyway.

[Rewind_Selector]

Originally Posted by ouchienurse This. Last year was DD's first year and they begged everyone to fill it out, even if you didn't qualify. Enough people did and the whole school received free lunch based on the # that did qualify. It was fabulous not to have to worry about it Sent from my iPhone using DS Forum

This is the same with my boys school. When I applied for Comcasts reduced price internet(you qualify if you have a child receiving free/reduced lunch) they checked on the school. I was able to skip the lengthy application process because it is a Title 1 school and all students receive free lunch.
They even have a summer program where ANY child under 18 can go get breakfast AND lunch for free at the school cafeteria.

[dvansmom]

I'm glad to see all the info. Thanks.