The district determines a child's eligibility for free or reduced lunch by considering these three criteria:
1. Income
Household income that is at or below the income eligibility level (see sidebar for chart)
For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must fill out a free and reduced-price meal application and return it to the Nutrition Services Office, Bookkeeper/Free and Reduced Processor, 5800 Colleyville Blvd., Colleyville.
2. Categorical or automatic eligibility
Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
The Nutrition Services Office is working with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible. The Nutrition Services Office 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 Nutrition Services at 817-251-5617.
Any household that wishes to decline benefits should contact Nutrition Services.
3. Program participant
Child's status is identified as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant or displaced by a declared disaster; additionally, this also includes a child's enrollment in Head Start or Even Start
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 to or below the attached income eligibility guidelines.
Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, the Nutrition Services Office 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 by calling 817-251-5560 or by writing to Paula Barbaroux, chief operations officer, 3051 Ira E. Woods Ave., Grapevine.
