CLAY COUNTY – The Federal COVID-19 waivers we have been operating under for the past two years have expired. To receive free or reduced meals, parents now will need to complete an application. Please remember that a new application must be completed for the new school year. The reduced price for lunch is $.40 and breakfast is $.30.

The district won’t be raising meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year. Elementary lunch prices are $2.25 and secondary is $2.50. Breakfast will remain at $1.50.

Children attending a Community Eligibility Provision school won’t need to fill out a Free and Reduced Application. Each CEP school will provide both breakfast and lunch free of charge with no application process. If a child attends a non-CEP school, a free and reduced-price meal application must be completed to receive benefits. Households with multiple children attending a CEP school and a non-CEP school will need to complete an application. Because the number of household members is a qualification of eligibility, both children will need to be listed on the application.

If your child attends a school participating in Universal Free breakfast an application must be completed to receive free or reduced lunch.

The following schools will be participating in CEP for the 2022-2023 school year: Bannerman Learning Center, Charles E. Bennett Elementary, Clay Hill Elementary, Grove Park Elementary, Keystone Heights Elementary, McRae Elementary, Middleburg Elementary, Montclair Elementary, Orange Park Junior High, Ridgeview Elementary, S. Bryan Jennings Elementary, W.E. Cherry Elementary and Wilkinson Elementary.

The following schools will be participating in Universal Free Breakfast: Coppergate Elementary, Doctors Inlet Elementary, Keystone Heights High, Lakeside Elementary, Orange Park High, and Wilkinson Junior High.

Household size and income criteria will be used to determine eligibility. An application cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information. Once approved, meal benefits are good for an entire year. You do not need to notify the organization of changes in income and household size. If previously denied or approved for reduced and a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size changes, please contact the Food and Nutrition Services Department.

Parents can apply for Free and Reduced Price Meals online. This process is safe, secure, private and available anytime, anywhere. Please visit the Clay County District School’s website at oneclay.net/foodandnutrition. Paper applications will still be available and will be sent home at the beginning of school. To apply for Free or Reduced-Price Meals, households must complete an online application or a paper application and return it to the school or the Food and Nutrition Services Office. The information provided on the application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

Households that receive SNAP or TANF are required to list on the application only the child’s name, SNAP/TANF case number, and signature of adult household members.

Foster children will receive free benefits regardless of the child’s income or the income of the household.

Households with children who are considered migrants, homeless or runaway should contact the district liaison at (904) 336-1346 or the migrant coordinator at (352) 955-6855.

To determine the household size, deployed service members are considered a part of the household. Families should include the names of the deployed service members on their application. Report only that portion of the deployed service member’s income made available to them or on their behalf to the family. Additionally, a housing allowance that is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative is not to be included as income.

All other households must provide the following information listed on the application:

● Total household income listed by the gross amount received, type of income (e.g., wages, child support, etc.) and how often the income is received by each household member;

● Names of all household members – check the “no income” box if applicable; if a household member is a child, list the school name for each;

● Signature of an adult household member certifying the information provided is correct; and

● Social security number (last 4 digits) of the adult signing the application or the word “NONE” for this household member if he or she does not have a social security number.

Under the provisions of the Free and Reduced-Price meal policy, the Food and Nutrition Services Administrative Support Assistant will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent or guardian is dissatisfied with the ruling of the official, he or she may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. If the parent wishes to make a formal appeal, he or she may make a request either orally or in writing to: David S. Broskie, Superintendent of Schools, 900 Walnut St., Green Cove Springs, 32043, or by calling (904) 336-6500 or (888) 663-2529.

Unless indicated otherwise on the application, the information on the Free and Reduced-Price Meal application may be used by the school system in determining eligibility for other educational programs.

BOXES HERE

To determine annual income:

● If you receive the income every week, multiply the total gross income by 52.

● If you receive the income every two weeks, multiply the total gross income by 26.

● If you receive the income twice a month, multiply the total gross income by 24.

● If you receive the income monthly, multiply the total gross income by 12.

Remember: The total income before taxes, social security, health benefits, union dues, or other deductions must be reported.

Under federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating based on 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 Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: Program Discrimination Complaint, 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 mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; by fax at (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or by email:program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.\