Alpha Charter School, 701 West State Street, Garland, Texas 75040 announced its policy for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the current income eligibility guidelines. Each school/site or the central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by anyone on request
Starting Aug. 15, 2016, Alpha Charter School will begin distributing letters to the households of the children in the district or Garland, Texas, about eligibility benefits and any actions households need to take to apply for these benefits. Applications are also available at 701 West State Street in Garland.
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 qualify for free or reduced-priced meals based on income an adult in the household must fill out a free and reduced-price meal application and return it to Sharon Pettie, Child Nutrition Director at 972-272-8078. 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 adults does not have a social security number, check the box for “No Social security number”
- Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct
Categorical or program eligibility
Alpha Charter School is working with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible. Alpha Charter School 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 Sharon Pettie, Child Nutrition Director.
Any household that wishes to decline benefits should contact Sharon Pettie, Child Nutrition Director, 972-272-8078.
Determining eligibility
Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Sharon Pettie, Child Nutrition Director, 972-272-8078 will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Officials eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Household wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Anthony Jefferson, Superintendent, 972-272-2173.
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 below the attached current income eligibility.
The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information on this application. You do not have to give the information, but if you do not, we cannot approve your child for free or reduced price meals. You must include the last four digits of the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. The last four digits of the social security number is not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) case number or other FDPIR identifier for your child or when you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number. We will use your information to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced price meals, and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs. We MAY share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.