COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 5
May 6, 2005
REGULATORY
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Jo Lynne
DeMary Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
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SUBJECT: |
Changes in the Free and Reduced Price Eligibility
Determination Process for the School Nutrition Programs Reauthorization
2004 |
The Child Nutrition and Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization
Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-265), amended sections of the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act (NSLA) affecting the eligibility determination
process for free and reduced price benefits under the National School Lunch
Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Special Milk Program. The following are changes affecting the free
and reduced price eligibility process that were either effective upon enactment
of the law, or will be effective July 1, 2005.
Effective July 1, 2005, school divisions are required to use a
household application to determine eligibility for free or reduced price meals
in the school nutrition programs. The
application must provide the opportunity for the household to list the names of
all children for whom application is being made. The school division is prohibited from requiring a separate
application for each child attending school in the same school division.
Eligibility for Homeless, Migrant, and Runaway Youth
Categorical eligibility for free meals was extended to students
who meet the federal definition of homeless, migrant, or runaway. All students meeting the definition may
become automatically eligible upon certification by the homeless liaison or
migrant education program coordinator.
Documentation of certification must be provided to the approving
official. Please see Regulatory
Superintendents Memorandum #8, dated September 24, 2004, for documentation
requirements.
The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) paid to military personnel
for privatized housing on certain military bases has been excluded from income
used to determine eligibility for free or reduced price meals. In Virginia, the following are the military
bases that currently provide privatized housing: Marine Corps Base Quantico,
Fort Belvoir, Fort Eustis, and Fort Story.
Navy housing at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren and Hampton
Roads Housing in Norfolk will become privatized in July 2005.
Duration of Households Free and Reduced Price Meal Eligibility Determination
Once approved for free or reduced price meal benefits during a school year, a household will remain eligible for those benefits for the entire school year. Households are no longer required to report changes in circumstances such as an increase in income, a decrease in household size, or when the household is no longer eligible for food stamps or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). This provision applies to students approved by direct certification as well as by application.
Prototype Application, Letters, and Related Materials
The prototype application, letters, and related materials will be
updated to incorporate the above changes.
Revised prototype forms will be posted in the Annual Agreement, Online
Forms section of the School Nutrition Program Web System (SNPWeb) beginning the
week of May 16, 2005.
Questions regarding these regulatory changes may be addressed to
Lynne Fellin, acting director, or the assigned school nutrition programs
specialist at (804) 225-2074.
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