Universal free school meals to end. How to re-apply for reduced-price lunches in Bucks County
No child should go hungry.
Yet more and more young people in Bucks County are relying on schools to provide two of the most important meals of the day.
Regardless of income, Bucks County students, and their counterparts around the nation, were able to receive free school breakfasts and lunches during the pandemic. Since March 2020, the eligibility requirements were lifted so that all students, despite income, could receive free meals.
Bucks districts reported serving millions of meals during the pandemic, including while children were learning remotely from home.
As the pandemic has eased, the federal program that subsidized those meals for all expired June 30, returning to a system that is based on income and family size. Many food services professionals in Bucks had hoped the model set up during the pandemic for universal free or reduced meals would remain as it reduces stigma, ensures availability of nutritious meals and erase school lunch debt.
Area school districts said they are now stepping up alerts to parents about the changes and the need to start packing lunches or to re-apply for free or reduced-price lunches before the start of the 2022-2023 academic year begins in September.
Nearly 30,000 in Bucks and eastern Montgomery County schools are eligible for free school lunches or pay a reduced price based on family size and income, according to estimates by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a child advocacy nonprofit founded in 1907.
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Some states have increased funding to schools to provide more free and reduced-priced lunches to kids. However, Pennsylvania has not yet decided whether to supplement the expiring federal program. Lawmakers in Harrisburg missed the deadline to pass a state budget by June 30.
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Confusion about school lunch programs is to be expected with the new school year.
"We are notifying all families of this decision, however those families that qualified for free or reduced meals last year will have an automatic 30-day grace period to re-apply, and are entitled to the benefit through the first 30 school days," said Gerry Giarratana, director of food services in the Palisades School District.
"In the event a parent assumes their child receives a free meal, and does not have a pre-approved application on file, we would certainly provide the meal," Giarratana added.
Many other school administrators said they would likely provide a temporary "grace" period for students whose parents did not submit the necessary paperwork.
In April, the Central Bucks School District began sending notices to parents, said Angela M. Linch, director of communications and community relations.
"Now is a good time to log on, bring your child’s account up to date if money is owed, and update expired payment information, the notices said. "Your child will not be able to utilize their account to purchase a la carte items or snacks if it is past due."
All parents need to reapply for free or reduced free lunches, said Christopher McHugh, business manager of the Bristol Borough School District.
"The district is between 65% and 70% free or reduced lunch," McHugh said.
More:Bucks schools fed millions of students during the pandemic. Is it a model for universal free lunch?
How to apply for free and reduced price school lunches
Most parents will apply online for free and reduced-price school meals, though the applications can be hard to locate on school web sites.
Here's detailed instructions for locating applications in your district:
Bensalem: Visit the BensalemSD.org and click the banner for "Food Services"
Bristol Borough: Go to BBSD.org and click the homepage link to “Apply for Free and Reduced Meals”
Bristol Township: Visit BristolTwpSD.org, select “Departments,” and next “Food Services”
Centennial: Go to CentennialSD.org, select the banner “Departments,” and next “Food & Nutrition”
Central Bucks: Visit CBSD.org, click the banner for “Departments,” and next “Food Services”
Council Rock: Go to CRSD.org, click the banner for “Parents,” and next “Food Services”
Hatboro-Horsham: Visit Hatboro-Horsham.org and click the link for “Free and Reduced Meal Applications” under “District Information”
Morrisville: Go to MV.org, click the link for “Dining Services Menus,” and next “Applications for Free and Reduced Applications”
New Hope-Solebury: Go to NHSD.org and click the link for “Menus”
Neshaminy: Visit NeshmaminySD.org and click the homepage button for “Food Services”
North Penn: Go to NPenn.org, click the banner ‘Central Office,” and next “School Nutrition Services”
Palisades: Visit Palisd.org, select “Departments,” and “Food Services”
Pennsbury: Visit SchoolCafe.com/PennsburySD
Pennridge: Go to Pennridge.org, click “Families,” and “Breakfast & Lunch Menus”
Quakertown: Visit QCSD.org, select “Quick Links,” and “Free and Reduced Lunch Information”
Souderton: Go to SoudertonSD.org, select “Parents & Students,” “Food Services,” and “Free and Reduced Meals”
Upper Moreland: Visit UMTSD.org, select "District Offices,” and “Food Services"
Who can apply for free and reduced price lunches
Children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the poverty level are eligible for free lunches. Kids in families whose income is at or below 185% of the poverty level are eligible for reduced price lunches.
Eligibility is determined by income and the size of the family and rates are set each year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture each year.
For example, a single mom with one child and earning less than $33,875 per year could apply for reduced-price school lunches.
A family of two parents and two children could apply for free school lunches, if the family’s combined annual income was less than $36,075.
In every area school district, the number of students qualifying for free and reduced-price meals is climbing.
Central Bucks, one of the wealthiest districts, has seen 148% increase in eligible students since the Anne E. Casey Foundation first started tracking the issue.
In 2004, just 489 students in Central Bucks schools were eligible. That figure has risen to 1,126 students by the year 2022 ― the latest available figures from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
In Bristol Borough, 69% of students were eligible based on family income in 2020, according to foundation estimates. Morrisville ranked second for eligible students with 60% qualifying for such assistance.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: How to get free and reduced-price school lunches as federal universal program for meals ends
