Free and reduced-price breakfasts, lunches available to eligible students
Ramona Unified School District provides free and reduced-price meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program and the National School Breakfast Program.
A copy of the policy is at the district office at 720 Ninth St. and at each of the schools in the district.
Household size and income are used to determine eligibility for free, reduced-price and full-price meals. Children from homes with incomes at or below specific levels are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
Examples of children qualifying for free lunches and breakfasts are those living in a home of four with an annual income of $28,665. Reduced-price meals go to children living in a household of four with an annual income of $40,793.
Applications forms also are available online at www.ramonausd.net under “Department & Services—Food & Nutrition Services.”
To apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits, households must complete an application and return it to the school for processing. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used to determine meal eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school or program officials.
Children who receive Food Stamp, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids, Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payment or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation benefits are automatically eligible for free meals regardless of the income of the household in which they live.
Requirements for school officials to determine eligibility for the benefits are: For households receiving benefits listed in the previous paragraph, applications only need include the enrolled child’s or children’s name/s, Food Stamp, CalWORKS, Kin-GAP or FDPIR case number and the signature of an adult household member. For households not receiving any of the four benefits, applications must include the names of all household members, the amount and source of income received by each household member, and the signature and corresponding Social Security number of an adult household member. If the adult does not have a Social Security number, the household member must indicate that a Social Security number is not available.
Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the eligibility ruling may discuss the decision with the district official on an informal basis. They also may make a formal request for an appeal hearing and may do so orally or in writing.
If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the parent or guardian should contact the school.