The Spring Independent School District participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program.

Children from households that meet Federal Income guidelines are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. To apply for free or reduced price meals, go online to www.springisd.org/mealapps or complete a paper application and return it to the school. Paper applications will be located at every school starting on August 15th as well as at the child nutrition office at 15330 Kuykendahl. We will be accepting free and reduced applications during early registration week, at a table near the front of each elementary school. Computers for online application will also be available at most elementary schools and at the Child Nutrition office.

Students with reduced eligibility will receive free lunch, an application must be submitted to determine eligibility.

Eligibility is based on federally established income and household size guidelines. All students have meal accounts and pin numbers that must be entered for every transaction whether paid, reduced or free. Student eligibility is kept confidential.

Please include all children on one application only. Until applications are processed, parents will need to give their children money to purchase school meals ($1.50 for elementary lunch, $1.75 or more for secondary lunch). Parents should allow 10 working days for eligibility determination after receipt of the application by the child nutrition department. Parents need to prepare a lunch or send lunch money until a student is approved.

You may apply for free and reduced-price meals at any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now but have a change, such as a decrease in household income and/or household size, become unemployed or get food stamps or TANF for your children, you may then complete an application.

School officials use the information on the application only to decide if your children get free or reduced-price meals. Free and reduced-price eligibility information may be released to other federal, state and local education, health or other means-tested programs. Some programs already identified are National Assessment of Educational Progress and officials collecting data for Title 1 allocation and evaluation purposes.

• Income Eligibility Guidelines for 2011-12 (PDF)

If you currently receive Food Stamps/TANF for your child(ren), you must list the names of the students, the Eligibility Group Number (EDG#), guardian signature and printed name.

1. List the names of everyone who lives in your household. Include parents, grandparents, children, other relatives and unrelated people who live in your household.
2. List the amount of income each household member receives, where it comes from and how often it is received.
3. The last 4 digits of the Social Security Number of the household member who signs the application or checks the box if the member does have not a Social Security Number.
4. The signature of an adult household member is required. An application that is not complete cannot be approved. If applying online, an electronic signature is generated.

Foster children are eligible for free meals. Foster children are defined as being placed by the court or a ward of the state. An application must be submitted. You may include them in the household with children that are not foster children living in the same household. You must include any personal use income for the foster child. The household count and entire income will determine the eligibility of the household, but the foster child is automatically free.

If you are applying for a single foster child on an application, it must include the child’s name, the child’s “personal use” income, and an adult / guardian signature.

Your eligibility may be checked at any time during the school year. School officials may require you to send pay stubs showing that your children should receive free or reduced-price meals.

You may talk to school officials if you do not agree with the determined eligibility based on your application or with the results of verification. You may also ask for a fair hearing.

Meal substitutions at no additional cost for children who meet the definition of “handicapped” will be served provided a physician has submitted a statement attesting to this fact and prescribing a solution.

In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is 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 Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.