1. HOW DO I APPLY FOR FREE AND/OR REDUCED PRICE SCHOOL MEALS? There are two options:

• Submit a paper meal application. You can pick one up at any school that your child/children are attending.
• Apply online at https://rocket.washoeschools.net. The online application has the same requirements and will ask for the same information as the paper application [If you have 6 or more children, DO NOT apply online; instead please submit a paper meal application].

2. WHO CAN GET FREE OR REDUCED-PRICED MEALS?

• All children/students in households receiving benefits from Nevada SNAP, TANF, and/or FDPIR.
• Foster children/students under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court.
• Children/students participating in their school's Head Start program or attending C.E.P. (Community Eligibility Provision) schools.
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant.
• Children may receive free or reduced-priced meals if their household's income is within the limits of the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-priced meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart:
   

3. HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDREN QUALIFY AS HOMELESS, MIGRANT, OR RUNAWAY? Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangements? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are there any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet any of these descriptions and haven't been told your children will get free meals, please contact the homeless liaison or the migrant coordinator/school counselor at your child's school.

4. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD? No. Use one (1) Free & Reduced School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to the school cafeteria manager or the Nutrition Services Center.

5. SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVE A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE ALREADY APPROVED FOR FREE MEALS? No, but please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions.

6. MY CHILD/CHILDREN'S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE? Yes. Your child's application is only good for that school year and the first 30 days of this school year, through 9/26/23. After that, you must submit a new application unless Nutrition Services tells you that your child is eligible for the new school year. If you do not submit a new application (that Nutrition Services approves), or you have not been notified that your child is eligible for free meals, your child will be charged the full price for meals.

7. IF MY CHILDREN GET WIC, CAN MY CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please submit an application.

8. WILL THE INFORMATION I GIVE BE CHECKED? Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of your reported household income.

9. IF I DON'T QUALIFY NOW, MAY I APPLY LATER? Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced-priced meals if the household income drops below the income limit.

10. WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE SCHOOL'S DECISION ABOUT MY APPLICATION? You should talk to Nutrition Services, Kristy McDonald at (775) 325-8431. You also may ask for a hearing by calling Dr. Troy Parks, Chief Academic Officer, (775) 789-4608, or writing to him:  P.O. Box 30425, Reno, NV 89520.

11. MAY I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSEHOLD IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN? Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-priced meals.

12. WHAT IF MY INCOME IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME? List the amount that you usually receive. For example, if you normally make $1,000 each month but missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1,000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes. Use your current income if you have lost a job or have reduced hours or wages.

13. WHAT IF SOME HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE NO INCOME TO REPORT? Whenever this happens, please write a "0" in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank; we assume you meant to do so.

14. WE ARE IN THE MILITARY. DO WE REPORT OUR INCOME DIFFERENTLY? Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. In addition, if you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.

15. WHAT IF THERE ISN'T ENOUGH SPACE ON THE APPLICATION FOR MY FAMILY? Please list any additional household members on a separate piece of paper and staple it to your application. The 2023-2024 Application for Meal Benefits is available at all school offices except C.E.P./Provision II schools (See C.E.P. schools list above).

16. MY FAMILY NEEDS MORE HELP. ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS FOR WHICH WE MIGHT APPLY? To find out how to apply for Nevada SNAP or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call the Nevada Hotline number.

If you have additional questions, please call Kristy McDonald, Determining Official, at (775) 325-8431.