Garland ISD announces Free and Reduced-Price Meals and Community Eligibility Provision

Garland, TX (July 29, 2024) – Garland Independent School District announced its policy for serving meals to children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2024-2025 school year.  Fifty-five sites (listed below) qualify to operate the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2024-2025 school year.  CEP allows for all students enrolled at that campus to receive breakfast and lunch at no charge.  Furthermore, CEP eliminates the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals. This reduces burdens for both families and school administrators and helps ensure that students receive nutritious meals at the participating schools.

2024-2025 CEP Schools

All Non-CEP sites (listed below) will provide Free and Reduced-price meals for children served under the attached current income eligibility guidelines. Each site or the Student Nutrition Services office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by anyone on request.

2024-2025 NonCEP Schools

Starting July 22, 2024, Student Nutrition Services will begin distributing letters via email to households of students attending non-CEP schools.  These letters will be regarding meal eligibility benefits and any action households need to take to apply for these benefits. The 2024-2025 Free & Reduced-priced Meal Application will be available starting on July 22, 2024 either online at https://schoolcafe.com/garlandisd or at 701 N.1^st Garland, TX 75040.

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

1. Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels

Categorical or Automatic Eligibility

2. Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Program Participant

3. Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster
4. Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start

Income Eligibility

For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must complete the free and reduced-price meal application and submit online (https://schoolcafe.com/garlandisd) or return the printed application form to your child’s school or the Student Nutrition Services office located at 701 N.1^st Street, Garland, TX 75040. Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information:

1. Names of all household members
2. Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member
3. Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for “I do not have a Social Security number”
4. Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct

Categorical or Program Eligibility

Student Nutrition Services is working with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible and 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 may contact Student Nutrition Services at 972-494-8322.

Any household that wishes to decline benefits should contact Student Nutrition Services at 972-494-8322.

Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may also be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year.

Determining Eligibility

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Student Nutrition Services 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 either verbally or in writing to Shelley Garrett, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent of Safety & Operations at 501 S Jupiter St. Garland, TX 75042.

Unexpected Circumstances

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the Student Nutrition Services. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the attached current income eligibility guidelines.

Charge Policy

GISD Board Policy CO (Local) sets the maximum allowable student meal debt at -$25.00.  Students will be given a low/negative balance notice when they have any negative balance.  The parent and/or guardian will be contacted when negative balance reaches $10.00.  It is a goal of the District that no child goes without a meal. We will work with families to ensure they are receiving all meal benefits for which they are eligible.  Parents are strongly encouraged to make extra pre-payments to cover meals for the coming week/month.  Cash, check, or money order will be accepted in any reasonable amount at the school or Student Nutrition Services office.  Parents may also use the SchoolCafe payment system (https://schoolcafe.com/garlandisd) to make credit card payment.

Press release submitted by Typhani Braziel, Garland ISD. Edited for publication in Blue Ribbon News. Courtesy graphics.

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