Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals 2021/2022 - English
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Solicitud 2021-2022 para Comida Escolar Gratis y de Precio Reducido
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Free/Reduced Lunch Application

YOU MUST REAPPLY EACH SCHOOL YEAR!

2021-2022 Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals
File Size: 203 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Solicitud 2021-2022 para Comida Escolar Gratis y de Precio Reducido
File Size: 175 kb
File Type: pdf
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Unpaid Meal Charges Policy and Program Information.

Prices for school lunches are set by Tucson Country Day School in accordance with federal and state regulations.
 
Families may obtain information about TCDS’s school lunch program and apply for free or reduced price lunch by contacting Lauren Mosgrove by email at LMosgrove@TCDSChampions.com.
 
It is the responsibility of students, Parents, or guardians to track their lunch account and to pay for lunches provided by the school lunch program.  Lunch accounts may be tracked on EZ School Apps at https://www.ezschoolapps.com.  Parents are encouraged to keep at least one week’s worth of lunch money or greater in their child’s lunch account.  Payments may be made on the TCDS website at www.TCDCharterSchool.com, on the EZ School Apps website at https://www.ezschoolapps.com, by calling the school and making a payment using a credit or debit card, by sending a check to the office or Kitchen, or by visiting the school and making a payment in the Kitchen, main office, or Business Office.
 
As a courtesy, parents may receive an email when their child’s lunch account balance runs low or if they have a negative balance.  Parents are asked to make sure their email address is up to date in the school records.  Written notes may also be sent home with students.
 
A student with a zero or negative balance may be allowed to charge up to three lunches before having lunch privileges suspended.  If a negative balance cannot be corrected immediately, parents should contact the TCDS Kitchen at 520-296-0883 extension 1132 to discuss payment options.  Until the balance is paid in full, students will need to bring a lunch from home.
 
Because TCDS cares about the well-being of our students, students will not be refused a lunch, even if their student lunch account has a negative balance.  Students with a negative balance will receive an alternate healthy lunch.  The alternative healthy lunch will be charged to the student’s lunch account that will increase the negative balance.
 
Lunches and additional entrée items must be ordered in advance.  Students who in attendance and do not pick up their pre-ordered items are still responsible to pay for the lunch.  Cancellations must be submitted 24 hours in advance in order to receive account credit.  Students who are absent will not be responsible for paying for their lunch.
 
Families may apply for free or reduced price lunch at any time during the school year.  Families are responsible for student lunch account charges made before the free or reduced price lunch application is approved.  The approval is not retroactive to the beginning of the school year.
 
For students with free lunch status
Lunches must be ordered in advance.  A qualifying student will receive one free school lunch every day.
 
Additional entrée items and additional milk is available to be purchased only if the student’s lunch account has a positive account balance.  Additional entrée items must be ordered in advance.
 
For students with reduced price lunch status
Lunches must be ordered in advance.  A qualifying student, with a positive student lunch account balance, will receive one reduced price lunch every day.
 
Additional entrée items and additional milk is available to be purchased only if the student’s lunch account has a positive account balance.  Additional entrée items must be ordered in advance.
 
Requesting a Refund
If a student is graduating or leaving TCDS, parents/guardians may submit a written request for a refund of any money remaining in their child’s lunch account to the school’s Director of Food Services, Stacey Love, at SLove@tcdschampions.com .
 
Parents/guardians may also request that any unused lunch account balance be transferred to another student or donated to the school.
 
Dear Parents/Guardians,

Children need healthy meals to learn.  Tucson Country Day School offers a healthy lunch every school day. Lunch costs $4.00. Your children may qualify for free lunch or for reduced-price lunch.  Reduced-price is $ 0.40 for lunch. Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process.
  • Who can get free meals?
    • All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP, FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations) or TANF, can get free meals regardless of your income.
    • Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
    • Children participating in their school’s Head Start Program are eligible for free meals.
    • Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
    • Children can get free or reduced-price meals if your household’s gross income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.
 
               Federal Eligibility Income Chart for School Year 2020-2021

                     Household Size    Yearly Income      Monthly Income      Weekly Income
                               1                      $23,606                  $1,968                      $454
                               2                      $31,894                  $2,658                      $614
                               3                      $40,182                  $3,349                      $773
                               4                      $48,470                  $4,040                      $933
                               5                      $56,758                  $4,730                      $1,092
                               6                      $65,046                  $5,421                      $1,251
                               7                      $73,334                  $6,112                      $1,411
                               8                      $81,622                  $6,802                      $1,570
      Each additional person:           +$8,288                  +$691                       +$160
​
  1. 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 your children will get free meals, please e-mail or call Lauren Mosgrove at LMosgrove@TCDSChampions.com.  ​
  2. Do I need to fill out an application for each child?  No. Use one Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application 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: Tucson Country Day School 9239 E Wrightstown Road Tucson, AZ 85715 (520)296-0883 X1172.
  3. SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE APPROVED FOR FREE MEALS?  No, but please read the letter you got carefully.  If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact Lauren Mosgrove at (520)296-0883 X1172 immediately.  
  4. CAN I APPLY ONLINE?   No. Our school does not have the option to apply for free or reduced-price meals online at this time. Please contact Lauren Mosgrove at LMosgrove@TCDSChampions.com, and refer to the information above to complete a paper application.
  5. MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR.  DO I NEED TO FILL OUT ANOTHER ONE?  Yes.  Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year through September 16, 2020.  You must send in 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. 
  6. I GET WIC. CAN MY CHILD(REN) GET FREE MEALS?  Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.  Please fill out an application.
  7. Will the information I give be checked? Yes.  We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.
  8. 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.
  9. 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 Mrs.Stacey Love at Tucson Country Day School at 520-296-0883 or SLove@tcdschampions.com, 9239 E Wrightstown Road Tucson, AZ 85715.
  10. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.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. 
  11. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month.  If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes.  If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.
  12. WHAT IF SOME HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE NO INCOME TO REPORT? Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application, or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.
  13. WE ARE IN THE MILITARY. DO WE REPORT OUR INCOME DIFFERENTLY? Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.
  14. WHAT IF THERE ISN’T ENOUGH SPACE ON THE APPLICATION FOR MY FAMILY?  List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper, and attach it to your application. Contact Lauren Mosgrove at LMosgrove@TCDSChampions.com, 9239 E Wrightstown Road Tucson, AZ 85715. to receive a second application.
  15. My family needs more help. Are there other programs we might apply for? To find out how to apply for SNAP or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 1-800-352-8401.

If you have other questions or need help, call (520)296-0883.

Sincerely,
Lauren Mosgrove, NSLP Coordinator

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 http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, 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: Call: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.


 De conformidad con la Ley Federal de Derechos Civiles y los reglamentos y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los EE. UU. (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés), se prohíbe que el USDA, sus agencias, oficinas, empleados e instituciones que participan o administran programas del USDA discriminen sobre la base de raza, color, nacionalidad, sexo, discapacidad, edad, o en represalia o venganza por actividades previas de derechos civiles en algún programa o actividad realizados o financiados por el USDA.
 
Las personas con discapacidades que necesiten medios alternativos para la comunicación de la información del programa (por ejemplo, sistema Braille, letras grandes, cintas de audio, lenguaje de señas americano, etc.), deben ponerse en contacto con la agencia (estatal o local) en la que solicitaron los beneficios. Las personas sordas, con dificultades de audición o discapacidades del habla pueden comunicarse con el USDA por medio del Federal Relay Service [Servicio Federal de Retransmisión] al (800) 877-8339. Además, la información del programa se puede proporcionar en otros idiomas.
 
​Para presentar una denuncia de discriminación, complete el Formulario de Denuncia de Discriminación del Programa del USDA, (AD-3027) que está disponible en línea en: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html y en cualquier oficina del USDA, o bien escriba una carta dirigida al USDA e incluya en la carta toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de denuncia, llame al (866) 632-9992 Haga llegar su formulario lleno o carta al USDA por: (1) correo: 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; (3) correo electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov.

Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

TCDS Lunch Program Policies

Students who qualify for FREE or REDUCED lunches must submit a monthly lunch order via EZ School Apps.

The free and reduced program covers a MEAL ONLY.  Meals include an entrée, a trip to our fruit & veggie bar and a milk. The cost for a reduced meal is 40¢.  It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to pay full price IN ADVANCE for any extra items ordered or received.  (Extras include:  Extra entrée: $2.00, extra milk: 50¢, boxed juice and/or bottled water: 50¢).  Students must have required credit in their account in order to receive extra items.  Free and reduced program participants are responsible for any balance due on their account prior to their program approval date.
​
It is the responsibility of students, parents or guardians to track their meal account, and to pay for meals provided by the school lunch program.  Track your meal account on EZ School Apps.  Parents are encouraged to keep at least one-week worth of lunch money, or greater, in their child's meal account. 

Making payments is easy online.  As a courtesy, parents may receive an email when their child’s meal account funds run low, or if they have a negative balance.  MAKE SURE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IS UP-TO-DATE IN OUR RECORDS!   Written notes may also be sent home with students.

A student with a zero or negative balance may be allowed to charge up to 3 meals before receiving an "alternate meal."  Students must have the correct credit in their account to receive any extra/ala carte items.  If a negative balance cannot be corrected immediately, contact the TCDS Kitchen at 520-296-0883, ext. 1132 to discuss payment options. Until the balance is paid in full, students will need to bring a lunch from home.  It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to either cancel, or pay for any meals ordered in advance.  The school reserves the right to cancel advanced orders after 3 or more failures to receive meals.

No child will go hungry!  Students who need a lunch, and/or those who have a suspended or delinquent meal account, may receive an “alternate meal."
 
Students who are present, and do not pickup their pre-ordered items, are still responsible to pay for the meal.  Cancellations must be submitted 24 hours in advance in order to receive account credit.  Students who are absent are not be responsible to pay for the meal.

If you have any questions regarding the menu or billing, please contact Ms. Stacey in the kitchen via email:  SLove@TCDSChampions.com
Please contact Ms. Lauren in the business office if you have questions regarding the application process:  LMosgrove@TCDSChampions.com.