G325 Free and Reduced-Price Meals

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Free and Reduced-Price Meals

The School Board recognizes the importance of good nutrition to each student's educational performance.

The Board shall provide eligible children with lunch at a reduced rate or at no charge to the student. It also shall provide breakfast in accordance with provisions in I.C. 20-26-9-1 et seq.

Eligibility of students for free or reduced-priced meals shall be determined by the criteria established by the Child Nutrition Program.

The Board designates the Superintendent to determine the eligibility of students for free and reduced-price meals in accordance with the criteria issued annually by the Federal government through the State Department of Education.

The schools shall annually notify all families of the availability, eligibility requirements, and application procedure for free and reduced-price meals by distributing an application to the family of each student enrolled in the school and shall seek out and apply for such Federal, State, and local funds as may be applied to the Corporation's program of free and reduced-price meals.

The Corporation shall follow the current Federal and State statutes and regulations governing school lunch programs, including but not limited to those governing the application process, accounting standards, and audit requirements of the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. All employees responsible for the collection and processing or auditing of free and reduced price lunch applications shall be trained in the requirements of the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, including but not limited to the eligibility requirements, accounting standards, and audit requirements.

The Superintendent shall establish whatever administrative guidelines are necessary to ensure the program is conducted in accordance with guidelines established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Indiana Department of Education.