Will County Regional Office of Education announced on behalf of the Boards of Education of School Districts #17, #30C, #33C, #70C, #81, #84, #86, #88, #88A, #89, #90, #91, #92, #114, #122, #157C, #159, #161, #200U, #201U, #202, #203, #204, #205, #207U, #209U, #210, #255U, #365U, and #843 in the counties of Kankakee, Kendall, and Will, State of Illinois, that Channahon School District #17, Troy School District #30C, Homer School District #33C, Laraway School District #70C, Union School District #81, Rockdale School District #84, Joliet Elementary School District #86, Chaney-Monge School District #88, Richland School District #88A, Fairmont School District #89, Taft School District #90, Lockport School District #91,Will County School District #92, Manhattan School District #114, New Lenox School District #122, Frankfort School District #157C, Mokena School District #159, Summit Hill School District #161, Beecher School District #200U, Crete-Monee School District #201U, Plainfield School District #202, Elwood School District #203, Joliet High School District #204, Lockport High School District #205, Peotone School District #207U, Wilmington School District #209U, Reed-Custer School District #255U, Valley View School District #365U, and Lincoln Way Special Ed. Cooperative #843 announce their policies for free and reduced price lunch, breakfast, and after school snack for those students unable to pay the full price for meals and snacks under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.
Children from households that meet Federal guidelines are eligible for free or reduced-price meal services. Complete one application per household for all children that attend the same school district.
All meals served must meet the U. S. Department of Agriculture meal requirements. However, if a child has been determined by a doctor to have a disability and the disability would prevent the child from eating the regular school meal, this school will make substitutions prescribed by the doctor. If a substitution is needed, there will be no extra charge for the meal. If you believe your child needs substitutions because of a disability, please contact the school for further information.
Application forms are available at the principal’s office in each school. To apply for free or reduced-price meal services, households must complete the application as soon as possible, sign it and return it to the school. Households should answer all applicable questions on the form. An application, which does not contain all the required information, cannot be processed and approved by the school. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants may be eligible for free/reduced-price meals and are encouraged to complete an application for meal benefits.
The required information is as follows:
FOOD STAMP/TANF HOUSEHOLDS: If you received a letter with an eligibility certificate for school meals, return the eligibility certificate to the school your child attends. You do not have to complete this application to receive meal benefits. Households that currently receive food stamps or ‘‘Temporary Assistance for Needy Families’’ (TANF) for their child(ren), only have to list the child(ren)’s name and food stamp or TANF case number and sign the application. Applications listing LINK card number cannot be used for free or reduced-price meals.
ALL OTHER HOUSEHOLDS: If a household’s income is at or below the level shown on the income scale, children are eligible for either free or reduced-price meal services. Households must provide the following information: (1) the names of all household members; (2) the Social Security number of the adult household member signing the application, or indicate if the adult does not have a Social Security number; (3) the amount of income each household member received last month, how frequently it is paid, and where it came from (wages, child support, etc.); and (4) the signature of an adult household member.
The information on the application may be checked by school or other officials at any time during the school year.
Households may apply for benefits at any time during the school year. Households that are not eligible now but have a decrease in household income, an increase in household size or have a household member that becomes unemployed should fill out an application at that time.
In certain cases, foster children are eligible for free or reduced-price meal services regardless of the household income. Households that have foster children living with them and wish to apply for free or reduced-price meal services for them should complete the application. Homeless, migrant and runaway youth are categorically eligible for free meals. Please follow instructions and return form to school.
Households dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss it with the school. Households also have the right to a fair hearing. This can be done by calling or writing the following official:
- The Principal, Business Manager, or Superintendent in the school/school district in which you live
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, all institutions are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.