December 3, 2024

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Proper nutrition is essential for children to thrive. At Flagstaff Unified School District, we provide healthy and delicious meals every school day to support our students' success. Here’s a breakdown of meal prices:

• Breakfast (all FUSD schools): $1.95

• Lunch: $3.30 for elementary students, $3.40 for secondary students

Families may also qualify for free or reduced-price meals, with reduced rates at just $0.30 for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch. For your student(s) to receive free or reduced-price meals, you must complete an application. To assist you in the application process, we’ve provided Income Eligibility Guidelines and a Frequently Asked Questions section below.

Ready to apply for free or reduced-price meals? CLICK HERE TO APPLY. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD? No. You only need to complete one application to apply for free or reduced-price meals for all students in your household. Please ensure the application is fully completed, as incomplete applications cannot be approved.

2. WHO CAN GET FREE MEALS? Children in households receiving benefits from SNAP, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, or TANF, as well as most foster children, are eligible for free meals regardless of income. Additionally, children can receive free meals if the household's gross income falls within the federal income guidelines for free meals.

3. CAN FOSTER CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS? Yes. Foster children under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals. Any foster child in the household qualifies for free meals, regardless of household income.

4. CAN HOMELESS, RUNAWAY, AND MIGRANT CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS?Yes. Children who are homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals. If you have not been notified that your child qualifies, please contact the Family Resource Center Homestart Liaison at 928-774-1103 to determine eligibility.

5. WHO CAN GET REDUCED PRICE MEALS? Children in households with incomes within the reduced-price limits on the Federal Eligibility Income Chart (included in the application) are eligible for low-cost meals.

6. SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR (2024-2025) SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE APPROVED FOR FREE MEALS? Carefully review the letter you received and follow the instructions provided. If you have any questions, contact Elizabeth Sosa Mendoza at 928-527-6094.

7. MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT ANOTHER ONE? Yes. Meal applications are only valid for the school year they were approved and the first few days of the following school year. A new application must be submitted unless the school has informed you that your child is eligible for the new school year.

8. I RECEIVE WIC. CAN MY CHILD(REN) GET FREE MEALS? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please complete an application.

9. WILL THE INFORMATION I GIVE BE CHECKED? Yes. We may also request written documentation to verify the information you provide.

10. IF I DON’T QUALIFY NOW, MAY I APPLY LATER? Yes. You can apply at any time during the school year. For instance, if a parent or guardian becomes unemployed, the household income may decrease to a level that qualifies for free or reduced-price meals.

11. WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE SCHOOL’S DECISION ABOUT MY APPLICATION? If you disagree, you should discuss the matter with school officials. You can also request a hearing by contacting Justin DiNardi at 3285 E Sparrow Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, or by calling 928-527-6010.

12. CAN I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSEHOLD IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN? Yes. You and your children do not need to be U.S. citizens to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

13. WHO SHOULD I INCLUDE AS MEMBERS OF MY HOUSEHOLD? Include all individuals living in your household, related or not, who share income and expenses (e.g., grandparents, other relatives, or friends). Be sure to include yourself and all children living with you. Do not include people who are economically independent (e.g., those who pay their own expenses and do not share income with you).

14. WHAT IF MY INCOME IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME? Report the income you normally receive. For example, if you usually earn $1,000 per month but earned $900 last month due to reduced hours, list $1,000. If you regularly receive overtime pay, include it. However, do not include occasional overtime. If your income has changed due to job loss or reduced hours, use your current income.

15. WE ARE IN THE MILITARY. DO WE INCLUDE OUR HOUSING ALLOWANCE AS INCOME? If you receive an off-base housing allowance, it must be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, you should not include the allowance as income.

16. MY SPOUSE IS DEPLOYED TO A COMBAT ZONE. IS THEIR COMBAT PAY COUNTED AS INCOME? No. Combat pay that is received in addition to basic pay due to deployment is not counted as income, provided it was not received prior to deployment. Contact your school for additional information.

17. MY FAMILY NEEDS MORE HELP. ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS WE MIGHT APPLY FOR? To learn about applying for SNAP or other assistance programs, contact your local assistance office or call 1-877-717-4199.

If you have other questions or need help, please contact Elizabeth Sosa Mendoza at msosa-mendoza@fusd1.org or 928-527-6094

Sincerely, 

Elizabeth Sosa Mendoza
FUSD Food and Nutrition Services

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires that we use information from this application to see who qualifies for free or reduced price meals. We can only approve complete forms. We may share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them deliver program benefits to your household. Inspectors and law enforcement may also use your information to make sure that program rules are met. Please be sure to provide the last four numbers of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application. If the adult does not have one, ‘Check if no Social Security Number.’ Applications for a foster child do not need to list a Social Security number. Applications for children in households receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) do not need to list a Social Security number. Some children qualify for free meals without an application. Please contact your school to get free meals for a foster child, and children who are homeless, migrant, or runaway.

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.