Children who receive CalFresh (food stamps), California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) benefits may be  automatically eligible for free meals regardless of the income of the household in which they reside.  These students may not have to complete an Application for Free or Reduced-Price Meals.  Nutrition Services officials will determine eligibility for free meals based on documentation obtained directly from the CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR office that a child is a member of a household currently receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR benefits. Nutrition Services will notify households of their eligibility by mail.  Families who receive this letter should review the letter to make sure all their children have been listed, if any child was not listed on the eligibility notice, the parent or guardian should contact Nutrition Services to have benefits extended to that child.  Households should complete an application if they are not notified of their eligibility by July 31, 2015.  Any household member who receives CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR benefits may submit an application listing their name and case number to help the children qualify for free meals.  The meal eligibility will be extended to all children listed on the application.   Households who choose to decline benefits should contact Nutrition Services.

Students who are homeless, migrant, or runaway are also entitled to a free meal. Families should contact their child’s school office for assistance in receiving benefits. Eligibility for a foster child is based solely on the child’s “personal use” income.

Requirements for Nutrition Services officials to determine eligibility for free and reduced price benefits are as follows:

• For households receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR benefits – applications need only include the enrolled child(ren)'s name, CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR case number, and the signature of the parent or guardian.
• The households who do not list a CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR case number, the application must include the names of all household members, the amount and source of the income received by each household member, and the signature and corresponding last four digits of the social security number of the parent or guardian who signs the application. If the parent or guardian does not have Social Security number, the parent or guardian must indicate that they do not have a social security number.
• Households who have foster children may include the foster children on their children’s application if it helps them qualify.

Families who participate in the Special/Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.  They are encouraged to complete a meal application.

Applications from the previous school year will be carried over for the first 30 operating days of the new school year.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, the determining official(s), as designated by Nutrition Services, shall review applications and determine eligibility.  Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the eligibility ruling may discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis.  If after speaking with the Nutrition official, parents who are dissatisfied with the results, may make a formal request for an appeal hearing of the decision, and may do so orally or in writing to:

Ryan T. DiGiulio, Assistant Superintendent

Administrative Services

Rowland Unified School District

1830 S. Nogales St., Rowland Heights, CA 91748

Families who do not qualify may reapply for free and reduced-price meal benefits at any time during the school year if a household member becomes unemployed or if there is a change in income, the family size increases, or if they begin to receive CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR benefits. 

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT:  The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.)

If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/comlaint_filing_cust.html, containing all of the information requested in the form or at any USDA Office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send you completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at [email protected].

Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339 or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).