Policy Memo (91.04 KB)
| DATE: | September 30, 2011 | |
| MEMO CODE: | SP50 CACFP27 SFSP20-2011 | |
| SUBJECT: | Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications – Requests for Additional Information | |
| TO: | Regional Directors Special Nutrition Programs All Regions |
State Directors Child Nutrition Programs All States |
This memorandum responds to questions received from regional offices, state agencies and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) regarding applications for free and reduced price school meals that request the applicant to provide information that is not required for a student’s certification of eligibility for child nutrition programs (CNPs). Although discussed from a school perspective, this policy also applies to Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program when eligibility for individual children must be established.
The purpose of the application for free and reduced price school meals is to determine if a student’s household is eligible for school meal benefits based on income or categorical eligibility. In some instances, LEAs may request additional information on applications, if it could provide a benefit to the applicant, applicants are notified that the information will be shared for the purposes of providing that benefit, and it does not create a real or perceived barrier to participation in CNPs.
Allowing LEAs to obtain data for other purposes on the application for free and reduced price school meals is intended to provide a mechanism for LEAs to share information with households on the availability of other non-meal benefits and may reduce paperwork burden on households. An example of non-meal benefits includes items such as free school books or computers for students that are eligible for free or reduced price meals. If notice is provided to households with or on the application and written permission obtained, if necessary, programs are permitted access to the otherwise confidential information for purposes which benefit the applicant household or student and do not create a barrier to CNP participation.
The CNP statutory and regulatory authorities codified in Section 9(b) (6) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, 42 USC 1758(b) (6), and 7 CFR 245.6(a) (1) are reflected in the Eligibility Manual for School Meals. As stated in this manual, “If schools or LEAs collect such information solely for non-NSLP, -SBP, or -SMP [Special Milk Program] purposes, the applications may not be labeled as applications for benefits under the school meals/milk programs or give any indication that such benefits are contingent upon a household returning the application.”
For example, LEAs may request applicants provide a student’s birth date on the application for free and reduced price school meals. Because this additional data does not create a barrier to CNP participation, and creates a possible benefit to the student by improving the chances a positive match can be made if chosen for verification with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)thereby minimizing the burden of completing an additional form(s), an LEA may request this additional information on the application.
Since additional information as described above is not required by CNPs for a student’s certification of eligibility for free and reduce price school meals, an application, whether paper or electronic, must be considered complete even if the additional information is not provided. Some electronic versions of free and reduced price applications request a student’s birth date as a required field and failure to provide that additional information results in the application’s categorization as “incomplete” or blocks the completion of the application process. Those barriers to participation must be removed. Any electronic version of a free and reduced price application requiring additional data must be updated so that the software no longer requires the additional data.
An LEA may not request applicants provide information regarding citizenship. Citizenship information is not required for certification of eligibility to participate in the CNPs. Requesting such information does not provide a benefit to the applicant or household and creates a perceived barrier to participation.
We encourage schools to comply with this requirement as soon as possible. If LEAs have a system which requires this additional information they must have a method to ensure that applications which are categorized as “incomplete” or otherwise blocked for this reason may still be certified as eligible if all the required information has been provided.
State agencies should direct any questions concerning this guidance to the appropriate FNS regional office. Regional offices with questions should contact the child nutrition division.
Cynthia Long
Director
Child Nutrition Division