PSB Food Services Update

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Families can still submit an application if they think they may qualify based on their income. An application is used to determine FREE/REDUCED eligibility, which may be used to access additional benefits such as school wide discounts, or money through the Summer EBT Program. Submit an application only if you think you may qualify.

Public Schools of Brookline will be participating in the National School Lunch Program and/ the School Breakfast Program. As part of this program, all Public Schools of Brookline will offer healthy meals every school day.

The Massachusetts legislature has provided permanent funding to make meals available at no cost to all students, regardless of household income. However, families should still complete a Meal Benefit Application as this provides data for key funding for academic resources and may also connect families to additional benefits. This data will also support the additional funds provided by the Commonwealth.

Children can get free or reduced-price meals if the household’s gross income falls at or below the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guideline chart.

Application forms are being distributed to all households with a letter informing households of the availability of free and reduced-price meals for their children and what is required to complete on the application. Applications also are available school offices, the office in each school, on the school’s website at www.publicschoolsofbrooklineschoolnutrition.com or online at LINQconnect.

Only one application is required for all children in the household and the information provided on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and verification of data. Applications may be verified at any time during the school year by the school or other program officials. An application for free or reduced-price benefits cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information as indicated on the application and instructions. In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability.

Families can apply for benefits at any time. If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household's income falls at or below the Federal Guidelines. Contact mona_saltalamacchia@psbma.org at any time to request an application.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price policy, the Assistant Director of Food Services will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);

• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR); or

• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), if the State program meets Federal standards.
  
  

An application is not required for free meal benefits for Assistance Program participants and all the children in the household are eligible for free meal benefits. If any children were not listed on the notice of eligibility, or if a household does not receive a notice of eligibility, the household should contact the school to have free meal benefits extended to them. Participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals, but they will need to turn in an application including household size and total income.

When known to Public Schools of Brookline households will also be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals if the individual child is considered “Other Source Categorically Eligible”, because the child is categorized, as defined by law as:

• Foster

• Homeless,

• Migrant,

• Runaway,

• Enrolled in an eligible Head Start, or

• Enrolled in an eligible pre-kindergarten class.
  
  

If any children were not listed on the notice of eligibility, the household should contact the school about their eligibility through the list above, or should submit an income application.

Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the school if the household chooses to decline the benefits. For more information, you may call Sasha Palmer at 617-730-2499 or e-mail at sasha_palmer@psbma.org.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail:
   U.S. Department of Agriculture
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
   
   

2. Fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
   
   

3. Email:
   program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

(Media credit: S. Palmer)