School Year 2023–24
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 31, 2023
Berkeley Unified School District today announced its policy for serving meals to students under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for the 2023– 2024 school year. All students will be served lunch and breakfast at no charge at the following sites:
Berkeley Arts Magnet at Whittier
Cragmont Elementary
Emerson Elementary
Ruth Acty Elementary
John Muir Elementary
Sylvia Mendez Elementary
Malcolm X Elementary
Oxford Elementary
Rosa Parks Elementary
Thousand Oaks Elementary
Washington Elementary
Longfellow Middle School
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
Willard Middle School
Berkeley High School
Berkeley Technology Academy Continuation High School
For additional information please contact: Bonnie Christensen, Director, Nutrition Services 1005 Parker Street in Berkeley, CA 94710. 510-644-6200 or email us at nutritionservices@berkeley.net
Berkeley Unified School District will continue to serve nutritious meals every school day under the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and Afterschool Snack Program. Effective July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, all children are eligible for free meals regardless of their financial circumstances, however, if the household income is less than or equal to the federal guidelines shown below, students may qualify for other benefits related to their current income level.
THE IEG TABLE IS AVAILABLE ON THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SNP ELIGIBILITY MATERIALS WEB PAGE AT https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/rs/scales2324.asp |
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Households do not need to turn in an application when the household receives a notification letter saying that all children automatically qualify for free meals when any household member receives benefits from CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR. Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, and children enrolled in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals. Contact school officials if any child in the household is not on the notification letter. The household must let school officials know if they do not want to receive free or reduced-price meals.
Breakfast and Lunch are free to all students, regardless of eligibility. However, meal applications are required to obtain maximum benefit amount from USDA to fund school meals. Applications will be sent to the household with a letter about the free and reduced-price meal program. These applications may qualify students for additional benefits based on eligibility status. Households that want to apply for benefits, must fill out one application for all children in the household and give it to the nutrition office at 1005 Parker Street, Berkeley CA. For a simple and secure method to apply, use our online application at www.ezmealapp.com Contact Sara Leon at 510-644-6200 for help filling out the application. The district will let you know if your application is approved or denied for free or reduced-price meals.
Households may turn in an application at any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now, but your household income goes down, household size goes up, or a household member starts receiving CalFresh, CalWORKs, or FDPIR, you may turn in an application at that time. Information given on the application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school officials. The last four digits of the Social Security number from any adult household or checking that you do not have a Social Security number is required if you include income on the application.
Households that receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals by filling out an application.
Foster children are eligible for free meals and may be included as a household member if the foster family chooses to also apply for the non-foster children on the same application. Including foster children as a household member may help the non-foster children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. If the non-foster children are not eligible, this does not keep foster children from receiving free meals.
Your child’s eligibility status from last school year will continue into the new school year for up to 30 school days or until the school processes your new application, or your child is otherwise certified for free or reduced-price meals. After the 30 school days, your child will have to pay full price for meals, unless the household receives a notification letter for free or reduced-price meals. School officials do not have to send reminder or expired eligibility notices.
If you do not agree with the decision or results of verification, you may discuss it with school officials. You also have the right to a fair hearing, which may be requested by calling or writing the hearing official: Bonnie Christensen at 510-644-6200.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.