To BCPS Families whose student(s) attend a Non-CEP School
2023-2024
Bullitt County Public Schools will be participating in the National School Lunch and the National School Breakfast Programs. As part of these programs, our schools will offer healthy meals every school day. Breakfast will cost $1.75; lunch will cost $3.00. Your student/s may qualify for free or reduced-price meals; reduced-price meals cost $0.30 for breakfast and $0.40 for lunch.
Qualifications for children to receive free or reduced price meals include: belonging to a household whose income is at or below the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines, belonging to a household that receives public assistance, or if the child is homeless, migrant, runaway, foster, or participates in a federal Head Start or Even Start pre-Kindergarten program.
Household size and income criteria are used to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits if the household does not receive assistance or the children are not in the other categories mentioned above. Children can get free or reduced-price meals if the household’s gross income falls at or below the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guideline chart. Citizenship is not required to apply for free and reduced meals.
To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households can fill out the application and return it to the school unless the household has already received notification that their children are approved for free meals this year. Application forms are being distributed to all households with a letter informing households of the availability of free and reduced-price meals for their children and what is required to complete the application. Applications are readily available on the School Nutrition website or by clicking this link.
Only one application is required for all children in the household, including any foster children, and the information provided on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and verification of data. Applications may be verified at any time during the school year by the school or other program officials. An application for free or reduced-price benefits cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information as indicated on the application and instructions. In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability. Household applications require a statement of total household income, household size and names of all household members. If a steady income is not received, the amount normally received should be listed. If a household member receives no income, a zero should be indicated on the application. Only the last 4 digits of a Social Security Number (or an indication of “none”) must be provided on the application. The adult household member must also sign the application certifying that the information is correct. Military personnel should report all income, cash bonuses, and cash allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing as income.
Families can apply for benefits at any time. 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 Federal Guidelines. Contact your child’s school front office or the office of School Nutrition Services at any time to request an application.
Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price policy, personnel in the office of School Nutrition Services will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the 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 either orally or in writing to Stephanie Norris at stephanie.norris@bullitt.kyschools.us.
If benefits were approved for children in the previous school year, that eligibility status is good for the first 30 operating days of the new school year. After that time you must provide a new application unless the school has informed 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 after the 30th operating day of the new school year.
When known to the office of School Nutrition Services, households will be notified of their children’s eligibility for free meals if they are members of households receiving assistance from the:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);
Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program (KTAP);
Medicaid* (Household composition and income criteria must be met for free meal eligibility)
An application is not required for free meal benefits for Assistance Program participants when the household is notified by the school that household children have been directly certified for free meals. All children in the household are eligible for free meal benefits upon this notification. If any children residing in the household were not listed on the notice of eligibility, or if a household does not receive a notice of eligibility, the household should contact the office of School Nutrition Services to have free meal benefits extended to them.
All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP or KTAP can get free meals regardless of your income. Households with any member who is receiving SNAP or KTAP benefits may submit an application with abbreviated information as indicated on the application and instructions if they do not receive a notice from the School Nutrition office directly certifying children for free meals. Categorical eligibility for free meal benefits is extended to all children in a household when the application lists a case number for SNAP or KTAP for any household member. To find out how to apply for SNAP or other assistance benefits, call 1-855-306-8959 or visit https://kynect.ky.gov.
Participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals, but they will need to turn in an application including household size and total income.
When known to the office of School Nutrition Services, households will also be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals if the individual child is considered “Other Source Categorically Eligible”, because the child is categorized, as defined by law as:
Foster
Homeless,
Migrant,
Runaway,
Enrolled in a federal Head Start, or Early Start class
If you believe children in your household should be considered “Other Source Categorically Eligible and haven’t been notified of free meals, please contact Stephanie Norris in the office of School Nutrition Services.
The household should contact the school about questions concerning possible eligibility due to identification with one of the "Other Source Categorically Eligible” descriptions listed above. A foster child is categorically eligible for free meals and may be included as a member of the foster family if the foster family chooses to also apply for benefits for other children. Including children in foster care as household members may help other children in the household qualify for benefits. If non-foster children in a foster family are not eligible for free or reduced price meal benefits, an eligible foster child will still receive free benefits.
Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the school if the household chooses to decline the free meal benefits. If more space is needed, a separate piece of paper may be attached to the application.
For more information regarding CEP, you may call Jennifer Davenport at the Board of Education at 502-869-8064.