6520 -FREE AND REDUCED-PRICE MEALS
The child nutrition services program shall participate in the national school lunch program, school breakfast program, and receive commodities donated by the United States Department of Agriculture; and it shall accept responsibility for providing free meals and reduced-price meals to eligible children in the schools.
Application forms for free and reduced-price meals, along with any explanatory materials, shall be sent to all students' homes by the school principal during the first week of school. Additional copies shall be made available in the principal's office at each school. The information provided on each application is confidential, and may be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year. In certain cases, foster children may also be eligible for these benefits. If a family has foster children living with the family and wishes to apply for meals, the family should be directed to contact the school principal.
No child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, or national origin. The child nutrition services director shall review all applications for free or reduced-price meals and determine eligibility. Eligibility forms are to be signed by the child nutrition services director, as the verifying official, and kept on file in the office of the child nutrition services director for three years and three months. In the event that a parent should be dissatisfied with the verifying official's decision, the parent may request, either orally or in writing, a hearing to appeal the decision. The Superintendent shall designate a hearing officer for the program. The hearing officer, as well as the verifying official, shall maintain copies of the hearing procedure, which may be reviewed by any interested party.
Legal Reference: G.S.115C-47(7), -47(22), -263, -264; National and School Lunch Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1751, et seq., Child Nutrition Act of 1966, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 1771, et seq.; 16 NCAC 6H.0004
Adopted Effective: July 1, 1999
