PROVISION 2 BASE YEAR
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
For Free and Reduced Price Meals
1. Make appropriate changes as needed to the sample media release to reflect the programs operated by the school district. All information in [brackets] should be replaced with district information.
2. The media release should be provided to the local informational media (newspaper), local unemployment office, and any major employers contemplating large layoffs in the area at the beginning of each school year. A list of the local media, employers, etc. that the media release was submitted to must be maintained. School districts should consider adding the Media Release to the school district website and other public locations that district households frequent (for example: Community Centers, Boys Club).
FORDYCE PUBLIC RELEASE- SY 2024-2025
PROVISION 2 BASE YEAR
The Fordyce School District will be participating in the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program. The Fordyce School District will provide meals at no charge to the household regardless of program eligibility. Households are encouraged to apply for meal benefits in order for the Fordyce School District to maintain this provision. Applications may be found at the Fordyce Elementary, and Fordyce High School main offices, and the Child Nutrition Director’s office located in the Cafeteria and on the Fordyce School website under the Cafeteria link to complete, and submit the online lunch application. Households that participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households must complete and return the application. Applications will be considered incomplete if all information is not provided as described in the instructions provided with the application. Applications may be submitted at any time during the school year as circumstances change provided that the loss of income causes the household income during the period of unemployment to be within the eligibility criteria.
Households with children who received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. may submit an application with abbreviated information as described in the application instructions. SNAP households should complete an application if they are not notified of their eligibility by August 30,2024.
All applications are subject to verification. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request to: Rhonda Lawson, Superintendent at 870-352-3005
Children who are enrolled in Head Start / Even Start programs are categorically eligible for free meals. Contact Kathy Hayes at 870-862-4545 ext. 1023 with questions regarding Head Start / Even Start meal benefits.
Children certified as foster, migrant, homeless or runaway by the district are categorically eligible for free meals. Contact Rhonda Lawson at 870-352-3005 with questions regarding foster, migrant, homeless or runaway meal benefits.
Households who are notified of their eligibility but who do not want their children to receive free meals must contact the school.
In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability.
Non-Discrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.
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:
mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.