The Aledo ISD recently announced its policy for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under certain current income eligibility guidelines. Each school/site or the central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by anyone on request.
The district has begun distributing letters to the households of the children in the district about eligibility benefits and any actions households need to take to apply for these benefits. Applications also are available at AISD Administration Building, 1008 Bailey Ranch Rd., Aledo TX 76008.
The following criteria will be used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits:
For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must complete an application for free and reduced-price meals and return it to Renee Goodenough, AISD Nutrition Department Secretary, C/O Early Childhood Academy, 408 FM 1187 South, Aledo, TX 76008 817-441-5142.
Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information:
Names of all household members
Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member
Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for “No Social Security number.”
Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct.
Aledo ISD is working with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible. Aledo ISD will notify the households of these children that they do not need to complete an application. Any household that does not receive a letter and feels it should have should contact Renee Goodenough, ASID Nutrition Department Secretary at 817-441-5142.
Goodenough should also be contacted if all children in household are not listed on any communication or notice, or if any household wishes to decline benefits2.
Applications may be submitted any time during the school year. The information provided by households on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may also be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year.
Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Child Nutrition Director Patty Willhite will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Official’s eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Earl Husfeld, CFO, 817-441-5111.
Unexpected Circumstances
If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the attached current income eligibility guidelines.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, Aledo ISD 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; (2) fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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