2024-2025 National School Lunch Program information

Rutherford County Schools had announced its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program. Local school officials have adopted the following household size and income criteria for determining eligibility:

Children need healthy meals to learn. Rutherford County Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast and lunch meals will follow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for healthy school meals, so please encourage students to participate. “In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age or disability.”

• Children may receive free or reduced price meals if your household’s income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Your children may qualify for free or reduced price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on the chart above.
• All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or TANF, are eligible for free meals.
• All children in the households receiving benefits from Medicaid may be eligible for free or reduced
• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free
• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free
• Children who are directly certified are eligible to receive free
• When known to Rutherford County Schools households will be notified of their children’s eligibility for free meals based on their participation (or a household member’s participation) in the: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR); or TemporaryAssistance for Needy Families (TANF), if the State program meets Federal standards.
• When known to Rutherford County Schools households will be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals based on the individual child’s designation as Other Source Categorically Eligible, as defined by law. Children are determined Other Source Categorically Eligible if they are:
• • • • • Homeless
        • Migrant
        • Runaway
        • Foster Child

• Enrolled in Head Start or an eligible pre-kindergarten program (see: SP 40-2013: Q&As Regarding the Participation of Head Start Programs in Child Nutrition Programs, https://www.fns.usda.gov/qas-regarding-participation-head-start-programs-child-nutrition- programs-0).

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDREN QUALIFY AS HOMELESS, MIGRANT, 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 haven’t been told yourchildren will get free meals, please call or e-mail your schools ATLAS liaison. 

DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD?

No. Use one Free and Reduced-Price School MealsApplication 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 your schools nutrition department.

SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE ALREADY APPROVED FOR FREE MEALS?

No, but please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact the school or nutrition department immediately.

CAN I APPLY ONLINE?

Yes! You are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application if you are able. The onlineapplication has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Visit https://frmeals.rcschools.net  to begin or to learn more about the online application process. Contact School Nutritionif you have any questions about the online application.

MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE?

Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year, through Sept 15th You must sendin a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year. If you do not send in a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible for free meals, your child will be charged the full price for meals.

I GET 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.

WILL THE INFORMATION I GIVE BE CHECKED?

Yes. In accordance with program regulations school officials will beverifying the income of some households at some time during the school Selected households will be requested to provide income documentation in order to continue receiving free and reduced-price meals.

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.

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 to: Andrea Congleton, 2240 Southpark Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN 37128 6158935815 ext 22884 [email protected] 

MAY I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSEHOLD IS NOT A 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.