Dear Parent/Guardian:
Our school provides healthy meals each day. Currently breakfast costs $1.00; lunch costs $2.50.
Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.
- Students who qualify for reduced-price school meals will receive free lunches and breakfasts.
- All kindergarten students qualify for free breakfasts.
To apply for free school meals, complete the enclosed Application for Educational Benefits following the instructions. A new application must be submitted each year. If you don’t qualify now, you may apply at any time during the school year. Your application also helps our school qualify for education funds and discounts. Return your completed Application for Educational Benefits to: New Discoveries Montessori Academy 1000 5th Avenue SE, Hutchinson, MN 55350
Who can get free school meals? Children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and foster, homeless, migrant and runaway children can get free school meals without reporting household income. Also, children can get free school meals if their household income is within the maximum income shown for their household size.
I get WIC. Can my children get free school meals? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free school meals. Please fill out an application.
May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens for your children to qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.
Who should I include as household members? Include yourself and all other people living in the household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends).
What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get overtime only sometimes.
Will the information I give be checked? Yes, and we may also ask you to send written proof.
How will the information be kept? Information you provide on the form, and your child’s approval status for school meal benefits, will be protected as private data. Your child’s approval status for school meal benefits may be shared with other nutrition, education or health programs that offer benefits based on approval for school meals – for more information see the back page of the Application for Educational Benefits. Let us know if you do not want your information shared for benefits from other programs.
If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. Please complete an application at any time if your income goes down, your household size goes up, or you start getting SNAP, MFIP or FDPIR benefits. Please provide the information requested about children’s racial identity and ethnicity, which helps to make sure we are fully serving our community. This information is not required for approval of school meal benefits.
If you have other questions or need help, call 320.234.6362
LINK TO FORM – Educational Benefits letter and forms to families 2016-17.docx