Dale-Roy School announces free, reduced-price lunch policy for news school year
ASHLAND − Dale-Roy School has announced its 2023-2024 program year policy for free and reduced-price meals for students unable to pay the full price of meals or milk served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast, After School Care Snack or Special Milk Programs. Each school office and the central office has a copy of the policy.
The Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines will be used to determine eligibility. Children from families whose annual income is at or below the federal guidelines are eligible for free and reduced-price meals or free milk if the school participates in the Special Milk Program.
Application forms are distributed to homes in a letter to parents or guardians. To apply, households should complete an application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available at the principal's office in each school.
Households that receive Special Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits (SNAP) or Ohio Works First (OWF) funds for a child must provide the child's name, the SNAP or OW case number and the signature of an adult household member on the application.
Households that do not receive SNAP or OW funds must provide the names of household members, the last four digits of the Social Security number of the adult signing the application or state "none" if the adult does not have a Social Security number, the amount and source of income received by each household member (state the monthly income) and the signature of an adult household member.
Free health care eligibility
Families with children eligible for school meals may be eligible for free health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio's Healthy Start and Healthy Families programs.
The programs include coverage for doctor visits, immunizations, physicals, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and more. Call 1-800-324-8680 for more information. Information also can be found at http://ifs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/familychild.stm. Anyone who has an Ohio Medicaid card is already receiving these services.
Households will be notified of the approval or denial of benefits.
Foster children are eligible for free meal benefits regardless of the household's income. If a family has foster children living with them and wishes to apply for such meals or milk for them, contact the school for more information.
Under the provision of the policy, Peggy Bachmann, food director, will review applications and determine eligibility.
Households may apply for benefits at any time during the school year. If a household is not currently eligible and if the household size increases or income decreases because of unemployment or other reasons, the family should contact the school to file a new application.
Submitted by Mandy Zediker, program secretary for the Ashland County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Dale-Roy School explains free, reduced lunch, health care policies
