Suffield Schools Lunch Meal Program Information

The Suffield Public Schools announced its policy for determining eligibility of children who may receive free or reduced-price meals served under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).

Local school officials have adopted the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) for family size and income criteria for determining eligibility. The following income guidelines will be used in Connecticut from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, for determining eligibility of participants for free and reduced-price meals in the Child Nutrition Programs (CNP).

To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households should fill out the application and return it to the school. Application forms are available online at www.suffield.org and at the school offices. Only one application is required per household and an application for free or reduced-price benefits cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information as indicated on the application and instructions.

The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purposes of determining eligibility and for administration and enforcement of the lunch, breakfast, milk, and P-EBT (a federal food program) programs. Additionally, all school-aged students in income-eligible households can receive school meal benefits regardless of a student’s immigration status, and the district/school does not release information for immigration-related purposes in the usual course of operating the CNPs. Note that the district may share your eligibility information with education, health, social service, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules. This information may also be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program officials. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

Under the provisions of the policy for determining eligibility for free and reduced-price meals, the registrar (Jamie Berry, 860-668-3800) will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent/guardian is dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official, they may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. If he/she wishes to make a formal appeal, a request either orally or in writing, may be made to William Hoff, Business Manager of School, Suffield Public Schools, 350 Mountain Rd, Suffield, CT 06078, 860-668-3202 for a hearing to appeal the decision.

The policy contains an outline of the hearing procedure. Each school and the central office of the school district has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by an interested party.

If a household member becomes unemployed or if household size changes at any time, the household should contact the school to file a new application. Such changes may make the students of the household eligible for reduced-price meals, free meals, or free milk, if the household income falls at or below the levels shown in the Income Guidelines.

Questions regarding the application process may be directed to the determining official at 860-668-3800.