Waller ISD Family Application Letter for Free and
Reduced Price Meals 2022-2023 School Year
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Children need healthy meals to learn. During the COVID-19 pandemic,
Congress authorized spending that allowed schools to serve free meals for all
students. Those funds are not authorized
to continue for the 2022-2023 school year. As a result
Waller ISD must return to charging for school meals and offering free and
reduced-price meals based on student eligibility. Families are encouraged to complete the Application for Free and
Reduced-Price School Meals as soon as possible.
Please note that if you
received a notification letter that a child is directly certified for free or
reduced-price meals, do not complete an application. Let the school know if any
children in the household attending school are not listed in the letter.
The questions and answers that follow and attached
directions provide additional information on how to complete the application.
Complete only one application for all the students in the household and
return the completed application to Randi Boleman, 1918 Key Street Waller, TX
77484. If you have questions about applying
for free or reduced-price meals, contact Randi Boleman at (936) 931-2347 or rboleman@wallerisd.net.
1.
Who
Qualifies for Free Meal Status?
·
Income—Children can get free or
reduced-price meals if a household’s gross income is within the limits
described in the Federal Income
Eligibility Guidelines.
·
Special Assistance Program Participants—Children in households receiving
benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Food
Distribution Program for Households on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), are eligible for free meals.
·
Foster—Foster children who are under the legal
responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
·
Head Start or Early Head Start—Children participating in these
programs are eligible for free meals.
·
Homeless, Runaway, and Migrant—Children who meet the definition
of homeless, runaway, or migrant qualify for free meals. If you haven’t been
told about a child’s status as homeless, runaway, or migrant or you feel a
child may qualify for one of these programs, please call or email Dean Guerra, Homeless Liaison, 936.372.0161.
·
WIC Recipient—Children
in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or
reduced-price meals.
2.
What If I Disagree with the School’s Decision About My Application? Talk to school
officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to Molly Warzon, Executive Director of Auxiliary Services, 2214
Waller Street, Waller, TX 77484,
(936)931-0307.
3.
What If My Income Is Not Always the Same? List the amount normally
received. If a household member lost a job or had hours/wages reduced, use
current income.
4.
If I Don’t Qualify Now, May I Apply Later? Yes. Apply at any time during the school year. A
child with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for
free and reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income
limit.
5. We Are in The Military. Do We Report
Our Income Differently? Basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. Any cash value
allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, or Family Subsistence
Supplemental Allowance payments count as income. If housing is part of the
Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include the housing allowance
as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is excluded from
income.
6.
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-price meals.
7.
Will Application Information Be Checked? Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of
the reported household income.
8.
My Family Needs More Help. Are There Other Programs We Might Apply For? To find out how to
apply for other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or
2-1-1.
9. Can I Apply Online? Yes! The online
application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information
as the paper application. Visit [waller.healtheliving.net] to begin or to learn more about the online
application process. Contact Randi Boleman at (936) 931-2347 or rboleman@wallerisd.net if you have questions about the online
application.
If you have other questions or need help, call Randi Boleman at (936) 931-2347.
Sincerely,
Randi Boleman