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).
Note: For SY 2023-24, students enrolled in a school participating in the SBP will be able to receive one school breakfast meal per school day free of charge. Additionally, all students eligible for reduced-price school meals enrolled in schools participating in the NSLP will be able to receive a lunch meal free of charge.
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, 2023, to June 30, 2024, for determining eligibility of participants for free and reduced-price meals in the Child Nutrition Programs.
Application forms are available online at www.suffield.org and the school offices. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households should fill out the application and return it to the school. 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 and P-EBT 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.
No application is required if the district directly certifies a student based on a household member receiving assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) program. All students in these households are eligible for free meal benefits. Households receiving assistance under the SNAP/TFA programs will be notified of their eligibility and students residing in the household will be provided free benefits unless the household notifies the determining official that it chooses to decline benefits. If any students were not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact the district or school to have free meal benefits extended to those students. Households receiving SNAP or TFA benefits for their children should only submit an application if they are not notified of their eligibility by September 29, 2023.
Some students may be directly certified for free or reduced-price meals based on Medicaid (HUSKY A). No application is required if the district directly certifies a student based on Medicaid (HUSKY A). All students in these households are eligible for free or reduced-priced meal benefits. Households receiving assistance under Medicaid (HUSKY A) will be notified of their eligibility and their children will be provided free or reduced-price benefits accordingly, unless the household notifies the determining official that it chooses to decline benefits.
Students in households participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please send in an application or contact the determining official for more information.
When known to the district/school, households will be notified of any student’s eligibility for free meals if the individual student is Other Source Categorically Eligible because the student is categorized as either: Homeless; runaway as defined by law and determined by the district or school’s homeless liaison; or enrolled in an eligible Head Start or pre-kindergarten class as defined by law. Households with students who are categorically eligible under Other Source Categorically Eligible Programs should complete an application and check-off the relevant box. Questions should be directed to the determining official.
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 Eric Remington, Business Manager of School, Suffield Public Schools, 350 Mountain Rd, Suffield, CT 06078, 860-668-3202 for a hearing to appeal the decision.
Questions regarding the application process may be directed to the determining official at 860-668-3800.