All schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP) must make free and reduced price meals available to eligible children and all schools and institutions participating in the free milk option of the Special Milk Program (SMP) must make free milk available to eligible children.

Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application Forms School Year 2009-2010

The Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application prototype and related materials for School Year 2009-10 are below.  For detailed instructions on the eligibility determination process, please read the materials under Guidance.

• Letter to Parents (2 pages printed front and back)
• Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application (2 pages printed front and back)
• Approval-Disapproval Letter to Households (1 page)

Optional application-related materials that may be provided to households:

• Sharing Information with Other Programs (1 page)
• Required Steps to Complete a Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application or Free Milk Family Application (1 page)

Guidance:

• Income Eligibility Guidelines for Use in Schools (1 page)
• Critical Information for the Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application (3 pages)
• Eligibility Manual for School Meals

Verification

Verification is confirmation of eligibility for free and reduced priced meals under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).  Annually, each Local Educational Agency (LEA) must select and verify a sample of applications approved for meal benefits.  The results of verification must be reported to the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) on the LEARS-Verification Summary Report website.

The verification sample must be selected from households that have submitted an approved "family/household application" as of October 1, 2009.  Verification is not required for children who have been certified for free meals under Direct Certification.      

Verification Information

• Local Education Agency Review System (LEARS) Verification Summary Report Frequently Asked Questions
• Verification of Eligibility for School Meals Powerpoint Presentation