2022-23 FREE & REDUCED LUNCH INFORMATION 

SCHOOL FEE WAIVER INFORMATION

Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year!  We have enjoyed serving meals at no cost to all students; however, current guidance from USDA does not allow us to serve free meals to students in the 2022-2023 school year without an approved 2022-2023 Free & Reduced Lunch Application on file.  Paid lunches will be $3.50 for grades K-6 and $3.75 grades 7-12; reduced-price lunches are $0.40 for those who qualify.

Importance of Free & Reduced Lunch Applications

You are encouraged to fill out an online Free & Reduced Lunch Application for your family.  Any Free or Reduced Lunch Applications approved during the 2021-2022 school year will carry over into the 2022-2023 school year for the first 30 days of school or until a new application is processed, whichever occurs first.

Students who qualify for free or reduced lunches also qualify for free or reduced school fees.  This includes a complete waiver of fees for students who qualify for free lunches.  A new application must be approved for the 2022-2023 school year to receive the waiver for free or reduced school fees.

All applications on file will be subject to verification.  You may be asked to send written proof of your income.  If you fail to provide proof of income, free/reduced benefits will be revoked and school fees will be reinstated.

There are two methods for qualification:

1. Direct Certification
   • If you received a letter stating that your student is ELIGIBLE FOR DIRECT CERTIFICATION, YOU DO NOT need to fill out an application for free or reduced lunches. Your student is automatically eligible for free lunches and the fee waiver.
   • All children living in the household with a student who qualifies under Direct Certification are also eligible for free lunches and fee waivers. Please contact Lynne Hutchison, Director of Food & Nutrition Services, at (440) 349-7703, if there are additions in the household that were not listed in the letter.
2. Online Free & Reduced Lunch Application

All Free & Reduced Lunch Applications will be processed online.  Please go to the Solon Schools’ website at www.solonschools.org and click on the Food & Nutrition Services link under the District tab, then click on the Free & Reduced Application button on the left.

• You only need to complete one application for all the students living in your household regardless of which school they attend.
• You will need your students’ Solon student ID numbers to complete the application.
• Your application must include ALL members living in the household and their income.
• Once you have filled out the application, you will receive confirmation of qualifying within 12-48 hours.
• If you do not receive confirmation that your application has been processed, please contact Lynne Hutchison, Director of Food & Nutrition Services, at (440) 349-7703 or LynneHutchison@solonboe.org.

Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on the above chart.

PUBLIC RELEASE

Solon City Schools today announced its 2022-2023 program year policy free and reduced-price meals for students unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast.  Each school office and the central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

The Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines will be used to determine eligibility. Children from families whose annual income is at or below the federal guidelines are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

Application forms are distributed to all homes in a letter to parents or guardians. To apply for free and reduced-price benefits, households should complete an application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office in each school. A complete application is required. Households which currently receive Special Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits (SNAP, formally known as food stamps) or Ohio Works First (OWF) funds for a child must provide the child’s name, the SNAP or OWF case number and signature of an adult household member on the application. Households that do not receive SNAP or OWF funds must provide the names of all household members, the last four digits of the Social Security Number of the adult signing the application or state “none” if the adult does not have a Social Security Number, the amount and source of income received by each household member (state the monthly income) and the signature of an adult household member.  If any of this information is missing, the school cannot process the application.

FREE HEALTH CARE: Families with children eligible for school meals may be eligible for free health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio’s Healthy Start & Healthy Families programs. These programs include coverage for doctor visits, immunizations, physicals, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and more. Please call 1-800-324-8680 for more information or to request an application. Information can also be found on the web at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/familychild.stm. Anyone who has an Ohio Medicaid card is already receiving these services.

The information provided on the application is confidential and will only be used for the purpose to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program official. To discourage the possibility of misrepresentation, the application forms contain a statement above the space for signature certifying that all information furnished is true and correct. Applications are being made in connection with the receipt of federal funds.  Schools or other officials may check the information on the application at any time during the school year. Deliberate misrepresentation of information may subject the applicant to prosecution under applicable state and federal laws.

Households will be notified of the approval or denial of benefits.

Foster children are categorically eligible for free meal benefits regardless of the household’s income. If a family has foster children living with them and wishes to apply for such meals for them, contact the school for more information.

Under the provision of the policy, Lynne Hutchison, MS, RDN, LS, Director of Food & Nutrition Services, will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent or guardian disagrees with the decision on the application or the result of verification, the decision may be discussed with the determining official on an informal basis. If a formal appeal is desired, the household has the right to a fair hearing. A fair hearing can be requested either orally or in writing from:

            Mike Acomb

            33800 Inwood Road

            Solon, OH 44139

The policy contains an outline of the hearing procedure.

Households may apply for benefits any time during the school year.  If a household is not currently eligible and if the household size increases or income decreases because of unemployment or other reasons, the family should contact the school to file a new application.  Such changes may make the children of the family eligible for free or reduced-price benefits if the family income falls at or below the levels shown above.

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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;

(2)          fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3)          email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Privacy Act Statement: This explains how we will use the information you give us.

The Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act requires the information on this application. You are not required to provide information, but if information is not provided, the state agency cannot approve your child for free or reduced-price meals. You must include the last four digits of the social security number of the adult household member who signs the application. The last four digits of the social security number is not required when you apply on behalf of a foster child or you list a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Ohio Works First (OWF) case number or other identifier for your child or when you indicate that the adult household member signing the application does not have a social security number. We will use your information to determine if your child is eligible for free or reduced-price meals, and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs. We may share your eligibility information with education, health, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules.

Nondiscrimination Statement

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/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.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:
   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:
   intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.