Georgia public school students who are members of households receiving

food stamps or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits are eligible

for free meals.�If those households have been notified that their children

are directly certified for free meals, they do not need to apply for free

or reduced-price meals. If households do not wish their children to receive

free meals, they are to notify the school immediately.

In addition, students that attend Georgia public schools and certain eligible

private schools and can not pay full price for their meals are encouraged

to apply for free or reduced-priced meals. Students from households with

incomes at or below the levels shown on the accompanying chart are available

for free or reduced-price meals.

Foster children may be eligible regardless of the income of the household

where they reside.�A foster child's eligibility is based on the child's

income. In addition, students from households receiving food stamps or

TANF who were not identified during the statewide direct certification

process will be approved solely on the basis of their eligibility for those

programs.

In order for school officials to determine eligibility, households receiving

food stamps or TANF are required only to list the child's name and

his or her food stamp or TANF case number and provide a signature of an

adult household member. Households not receiving food stamps or TANF must

list the names of all household members, the amount and source of income

of each household member and the social security number of the adult household

member who signs the application. If the person signing the application

does not have a social security number, he or she must indicate that the

number is not available.

Free and reduced-price applications may be submitted at anytime during

the school year. Application information is confidential and will be used

to determine eligibility.�School or program officials may verify information

at any time during the school year.

Households receiving food stamps or TANF must report when the household

no longer receives these benefits.�Other households approved for benefits

are required to report an increase in income of more than $50 per month

or $600 per year and a decrease in household size.�If a household member

becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the school should

also be notified. Such changes may make children eligible for benefits.

Each public school has a copy of the free and reduced-price meal policy

indicating who is responsible for determining eligibility.�Parents or guardians

dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official may wish to discuss

the decision informally with that person. Parents or guardians wishing

to make a formal appeal may make a request, either orally or in writing,

to the hearing officer.�The school office or the system superintendent's

office can provide the name, address, and phone number of the hearing officer.

Students participating in the USDA child nutrition programs will not be

discriminated against because of race, color, sex, national origin, age,

or disability. If any household member believes he or she has been discriminated

against, he or she should write to the USDA, Director, Office of Civil

Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,

D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD).

For more information about the application process, contact the school

principal, the system superintendent, or the School Nutrition Program of

the Georgia Department of Education, 1662 Twin Towers East, Atlanta, Georgia

30334 (404-651-6611). More information is available at www.gadoe.org.