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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Free and Reduced-price School Meals
in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP)
School Year 2023-24
STABLE Funds Version
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Children need healthy meals to learn. Colchester Public Schools offers healthy meals every school
day. For school year (SY) 2023-24 breakfast is free of charge for all students in schools that
participate in the School Breakfast Program and lunch costs K-8 $3.00, 9-12 $3.30. Your
children may qualify for either free meals or reduced-price meals. Note that for SY 2023-24
students eligible for reduced-price school meals will receive one lunch per school day free of charge.
This packet includes an application for free and reduced-price school meal benefits and detailed
instructions on how to complete the form.
Note: Children receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Family
Assistance (TFA) or Medicaid (HUSKY A) benefits may be directly certified and automatically
eligible for free meals without applying for benefits. (Some children who receive Medicaid (HUSKY
A) benefits may also be directly certified and automatically eligible for reduced-price meals.) Questions
regarding SNAP/TFA/Medicaid and direct certification should be sent to the determining official,
Leanne Ranheim, JJIS Cafeteria, 215 Halls Hill Road, Colchester CT 06415, email at
lranheim@colchesterct.or, or call 860-537-9421 ext 6507
If you have received a Notice of Direct Certification for free or reduced-price meals, do not
complete the application unless instructed to do so by the district. Let the school know if any
children in your household are not listed on the Notice of Direct Certification letter you received,
since free or reduced meal benefits are extended to all children in a household when directly
certified.
Additionally, all school-aged children in income-eligible households can receive school meal benefits
regardless of a child’s immigration status and the district/school does not release information for
immigration-related purposes in the usual course of operating the Child Nutrition Programs.
The Colchester Public Schools complies with the federal requirements for meal modifications for
children with special dietary needs. The requirements for meal modifications are different for
children with and without disabilities. For more information, please contact the food service
director, Leanne Ranheim at 860-537-9421 ext 6507
The answers to the common questions below can help you with the application process.
Connecticut State Department of Education • Revised August 2023 • Page 1 of 5
FAQs About Free and Reduced-price School Meals in the NSLP and SBP
1. Who can get free or reduced-price meals?
• All children in households receiving SNAP or TFA benefits are eligible for free meals. Note:
Some students receiving Medicaid (HUSKY A) benefits are eligible for free or reduced-price
meals.
• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are
eligible for free meals. (Note: A foster child is categorically eligible for free meals and may be
included as a member of the foster family if the foster family chooses to also apply for
benefits for other children. Including children in foster care as household members may help
other children in the household qualify for benefits. If non-foster children in a foster family
are not eligible for free or reduced-price meal benefits, an eligible foster child will still receive
free benefits.)
• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
• Children who meet the definition of homeless or runaway are eligible for free meals.
• Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household’s income is within the
limits of the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or
reduced-price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart:
Federal Reduced Eligibility Income Chart
(Effective July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024)
Household size Yearly Monthly Weekly
1 26,973 2,248 519
2 36,482 3,041 702
3 45,991 3,833 885
4 55,500 4,625 1,068
5 65,009 5,418 1,251
6 74,518 6,210 1,434
7 84,027 7,003 1,616
8 93,536 7,795 1,799
Each additional family
+ 9,509 + 793 + 183
member
Connecticut State Department of Education • August 2023 • Page 2 of 5
FAQs About Free and Reduced-price School Meals in the NSLP and SBP
2. How do I know if my children qualify as homeless or runaway? Do the members of
your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other
temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any
children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you
believe children in your household meet these descriptions and you have not been told your
children will get free meals, please call or e-mail Amy Emory at aemory@colchesterct.org
3. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No. Use one Free and Reduced-price
School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application
that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed
application to Leanne Ranheim, JJIS Cafeteria, 215 Halls Hill Road, Colchester CT 06415 or
email to lranheim@colchesterct.org
4. Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children
are already approved for free or reduced-price meals? No, but please read the letter
carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your
eligibility notification, contact Leanne Ranheim, email lranheim@colchesterct.org or call 860-
537-9421 ext 6507 immediately.
5. Can I apply online? No. Colchester Public Schools does not offer electronic on-line
applications.
6. My child’s application was approved last year. Do I need to fill out a new one? Yes.
Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for up to 30 operating days into
the new school year (or until a new eligibility determination is made, whichever comes first).
When the carryover period ends, unless you are notified that your children are directly certified
or you submit an application that is approved, your children’s meals must be claimed at the
paid rate. Though encouraged to do so, the LEA is not required to send a reminder or a notice
of expired eligibility.
7. I have not submitted an application within the past three years. Do I need to fill out a
new one? Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for up to 30
operating days into the new school year (or until a new eligibility determination is made,
whichever comes first). When the carryover period ends, unless you are notified that your
children are directly certified or you submit an application that is approved, your children’s
meals must be claimed at the paid rate. Though encouraged to do so, the LEA is not required
to send a reminder or a notice of expired eligibility.
Connecticut State Department of Education • August 2023 • Page 3 of 5
FAQs About Free and Reduced-price School Meals in the NSLP and SBP
8. I get WIC. Can my children get free meals? Children in households participating in WIC
may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please send in an application.
9. Will the information I give be checked? Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof
of the household income you report.
10. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes, you may apply at any time during the
school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may
become eligible for free and reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the
income limit.
11. What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? You should talk
to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing Dr. Charles Hewes,
Assistant Superintendent, 127 Norwich Avenue, Suite 202, Colchester CT 06415 or 860-537-
7208.
12. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You, your
children or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or
reduced-price meals.
13. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally receive.
For example, if you normally make $1,000 each month, but you missed some work last month
and only made $900, put down that you made $1,000 per month. If you normally get overtime,
include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes. If you have lost a job or
had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.
14. What if some household members have no income to report? Household members may
not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application or may not receive
income at all. When this happens, please write “0” in the field. However, if any income fields
are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving
income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.
15. We are in the military. Do we report our income differently? Your basic pay and cash
bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base
housing, food or clothing, or receive Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance payments,
these must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military
Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any
additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.
16. What if there isn’t enough space on the application for my family? List any additional
household members on a separate piece of paper and attach to your application. Contact
Leanne Ranheim, JJIS Cafeteria, 215 Halls Hill Road, Colchester CT 06415, email
lranheim@colchesterct.org or call 860-537-9421 ext 6507 to receive a second application.
Connecticut State Department of Education • August 2023 • Page 4 of 5
FAQs About Free and Reduced-price School Meals in the NSLP and SBP
17. My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for? To find
out how to apply for SNAP benefits and to contact the Department of Social Services office
in your town, contact United Way’s free referral number 2-1-1 (free call, statewide).
If you have other questions or need help, call 860-537-9421 ext 6507.
Sincerely,
Leanne Ranheim, District Nutrition Program Coordinator/Café Manager
Nondiscrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated
unfairly.
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/ad-3027.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.
Connecticut State Department of Education • August 2023 • Page 5 of 5