Skip to main content

3.42—OBTAINING AND RELEASING STUDENT’S FREE and REDUCED PRICE

MEAL ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

Obtaining Eligibility Information
A fundamental underpinning of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs (Programs) is that in their implementation, there will be no physical segregation of, discrimination against, or overt identification of children who are eligible for the Program's benefits. While the requirements of the Programs are defined in much greater detail in federal statutes and pertinent Code of Federal Regulations, this policy is designed to help employees understand prohibitions on how the student information is obtained and/or released through the Programs. Employees with the greatest responsibility for implementing and monitoring the Programs should obtain the training necessary to become fully aware of the nuances of their responsibilities.

The District is required to inform households with children enrolled in District schools of the availability of the Programs and of how the household may apply for Program benefits. However, the District and anyone employed by the district is strictly forbidden from requiring any household or student within a household from submitting an application to participate in the program. There are NO exceptions to this prohibition and it would apply, for example, to the offer of incentives for completed forms, or disincentives, or negative consequences for failing to submit or complete an application. Put simply, federal law requires that the names of the children shall not be published, posted, or announced in any manner.

In addition to potential federal criminal penalties that may be filed against a staff member who violates this prohibition, the employee shall be subject to discipline up to and including termination.

Releasing Eligibility Information
As part of the district’s participation in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, the district collects eligibility data from its students. The data’s confidentiality is very important and is governed by federal law. The district has made the determination to release student eligibility status or information as permitted by law. Federal law governs how eligibility data may be released and to whom. The district will take the following steps to ensure its confidentiality:

Some data may be released to government agencies or programs authorized by law to receive such data without parental consent, while other data may only be released after obtaining parental consent. In both instances, allowable information shall only be released on a need-to-know basis to individuals authorized to receive the data. The recipients shall sign an agreement with the district specifying the names or titles of the persons who may have access to the eligibility information. The agreement shall further specify the specific purpose(s) for which the data will be used and how the recipient(s) shall protect the data from further, unauthorized disclosures.

The superintendent shall designate the staff member(s) responsible for making eligibility determinations. Release of eligibility information to other district staff shall be limited to as few individuals as possible who shall have a specific need to know such information to perform their job responsibilities. Principals, counselors, teachers, and administrators shall not have routine access to eligibility information or status.

Each staff person with access to individual eligibility information shall be notified of their personal liability for its unauthorized disclosure and shall receive appropriate training on the laws governing the restrictions of such information.

Date Adopted: May 11, 2009
Last Revised: June 27, 2019

No comments to display

Back to top