Families with students in Columbia public schools who earn a certain income based on family size may qualify for reduced or free lunch for their children.
CPS provided the information to local media before the start of the school year on Tuesday. Parents or guardians can find applications in the school office. The information provided will help determine eligibility.
Applications should include household income from all sources or a food stamp/TANF case number, the names of all household members, and the signature and last four digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member signing the application, or indicate that no Social Security number is provided.
Foster children may also be eligible, regardless of household income. Households with children who qualify for the foster care, Head Start, homeless, migrant or runaway programs should contact the school for assistance in obtaining meal subsidies, the district said. Those who receive the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
Children in households receiving food stamps, TANF, or FDPIR are eligible for free meals.
If a family member becomes unemployed or family size changes, the family should contact the school to submit a new application. These changes may affect child eligibility.
If, after reviewing applications, a parent or guardian is dissatisfied with the eligibility decision, he or she may arrange an informal meeting by submitting a verbal or written request to the District’s Chief Operations Officer, Lazell Ofield.
The reduced prices for lunch and breakfast are 40 cents and 30 cents respectively. Otherwise, full-price meals apply:
- Kindergarten through 5th grade: $3.10 (lunch); $2.15 (breakfast);
- 6th-12th grade: $3.30 (lunch); $2.15 (breakfast); and
- Adults: $4.75 (lunch); $2.80 (breakfast).
For more information, including the household income scale for free or reduced-price meal eligibility, visit cpsk12.org/nutrition, email [email protected], or call 573-214-3480.
