The Cupertino Courier

News

Free, low-cost lunches for some children

By ERIN HUSSEY

The Cupertino Union School District has announced a new policy for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program. Application forms were mailed to all households within the school district and are also available at the principal's office in each school. The application form must be returned to the child's specific school for processing.

Household size and income will be used to determine eligibility for the free or reduced-priced meals. Children who receive food stamps, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids benefits, Kinship Guardianship Assistance Payments or are enrolled in a food distribution program on Indian reservations are automatically eligible for free meals regardless of the income of the household in which they reside.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, all applications will be reviewed. If the parents or guardians are dissatisfied with the decision on eligibility, an appeal hearing can be requested. Applications may be submitted or resubmitted due to changes in income or household size any time during the school year.