News Release
September 6, 2005
Denver Public Schools Begins Today To Serve Free Breakfast And Lunch To All Students In 30 Schools
Starting today (Tuesday, Sept. 6), the Denver Public Schools Office of Food and Nutrition Services will begin serving free breakfast and lunch to all enrolled students in the following 30 schools:
Barnum, Barrett, Castro, Cheltenham, Colfax, College View, Eagleton, Fairview, Fallis, Ford, Godsman, Knapp, McGlone, Munroe, Schenck, Smith Renaissance School of the Arts, Swansea, Valdez, Valverde, Whiteman and Wyman elementary schools; Del Pueblo, Fairmont Dual Language Immersion Academy, Gilpin, Harrington, Mitchell and Whittier K-8 schools; and Lake, Kepner and Rishel middle schools.
Denver Public Schools is piloting Provision 2 of the National School Lunch Program that enables schools to provide free meals to all of their students while reducing paperwork and administrative costs. Under Provision 2, all students receive free meals, regardless of income.
Schools in this year's pilot program will remain in the Provision 2 program for three subsequent years if they collect enough applications from families eligible for free or reduced-price meals to qualify the district for federal funds that cover the cost of the program. Pilot schools accepted into the Provision 2 program next year need only collect applications for free and reduced-price meals once every three years instead of annually.
Schools in the pilot program were selected because they are among those with the highest percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Families whose size and income are at or below the certain levels (shown below) are asked to submit an application to help ensure the school district receives the funding necessary to support this pilot program.
Children from families whose income is at or below the levels shown below are eligible for free or reduced-price meals:
- Family of 1: annual income to qualify for free meals: $12,441; annual income to qualify for reduced-price meals: $17,705
- Family of 2: annual income to qualify for free meals: $16,679; annual income to qualify for reduced-price meals: $23,736
- Family of 3: annual income to qualify for free meals: $20,917; annual income to qualify for reduced-price meals: $29,767
- Family of 4: annual income to qualify for free meals: $25,155; annual income to qualify for reduced-price meals: $35,798
- Family of 5: annual income to qualify for free meals: $29,393; annual income to qualify for reduced-price meals: $41,829
- Family of 6: annual income to qualify for free meals: $33,631; annual income to qualify for reduced-price meals: $47,860
- Family of 7: annual income to qualify for free meals: $37,869; annual income to qualify for reduced-price meals: $53,891
- Family of 8: annual income to qualify for free meals: $42,107 annual income to qualify for reduced-price meals: $59,922
For each additional family member, add $4,238 in annual income to qualify for free meals and $6,031 in annual income to qualify for reduced-price meals.
Application forms were sent to all homes with a letter to parents. Additional copies of the form are available at each school. The information provided on the application is confidential and is used only for the purpose of determining eligibility and verifying data. Applications from families receiving food stamps need only list the children's names, respective food stamp case number and the signature of an adult household member.
All other households who would qualify based upon income must show the names of all household members related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives or friends), the amount of gross income each person received last month and source, the signature of an adult household member and that adult's social security number, or check the box if the adult does not have a social security number. The information on the application may be verified by the school or other program officials at any time during the school year.
In certain cases, foster children also are eligible for these benefits. If families have foster children living with them and wish to apply for meals, they should contact Elaine Leggett, DPS Program Specialist, who will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with the decision, a request may be made to discuss it with the determining official. A formal appeal may be made either orally or in writing to: Leo Lesh, Executive Director, Department of Food and Nutrition, 2320 West 4th Ave., Denver, CO 80223, 303-715-5600, for a hearing to appeal the decision. The policy contains an outline of the hearing procedure.
Applications may be submitted any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now but have a decrease in income, become unemployed, have an increase in family size, or become eligible for food stamp benefits, you may fill out an application at that time.
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
For more information, contact the DPS Communications Office at 720-423-3414.