Poudre School District encourages qualified families to sign-up for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. These programs serve nutritious breakfasts and lunches every school day.

Elementary students may purchase lunch for $2.05 per meal. Secondary students may purchase lunch for $2.30 per meal. Breakfast is available for $1.25 at participating schools.

Children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. The cost of the reduced-price lunch for qualifying students in PreK - 2nd grade is free and 3rd - 12th grade is 40¢; breakfast for all reduced-price students will be free. To determine eligibility for the 2011-12 school year, PSD uses the following federal criteria. Children from families whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Free and reduced-price school meals application forms are mailed to all households. Extra applications are available in each school’s office and at the Poudre School District Child Nutrition Office at 1502 S. Timberline Road in Fort Collins. Students participating in the program at the end of the 2010-11 school year may be automatically enrolled in the program until September 30, 2011, or until your new application has been processed.

Parents must submit a new application for the 2011-12 school year. Fill out only one application per household and return it to the school office.

The information provided on the school meals application is confidential and will be used only to determine eligibility and to verify data.

Eligible families should complete and return the school meals application form even if they do not plan to participate in the lunch program. Parents of students who qualify for the federal free or reduced-price school lunch program may complete the 2011-12 PSD Information Release Form enclosed with the eligibility letter to receive information about fee waivers.

“I encourage all eligible families to return a completed application form to their child’s school or the PSD child nutrition office,” says Craig Schneider, Director Child Nutrition at PSD. “We serve a variety of nutritious foods each day that help students stay healthy and ready to learn.”

Applications from families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (formerly the Food Stamp Program) need only to list the children’s names, respective SNAP case number, and the signature of an adult household member.

All other households who would qualify based on income must show the names of all household members, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends), the source and amount of gross income each person received during the previous month, an adult’s signature and the last four numbers of an adult household member’s Social Security number, or check the box if the adult does not have a Social Security number. Program officials may verify the information provided on the application at any time during the school year.

In certain cases, foster children may also be eligible for these benefits. If a family has foster children living with them and wishes to apply for meals, they should contact the school or the PSD Child Nutrition Office at (970) 490-3557.

Under the provision of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs policy, the PSD Child Nutrition office will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with the decision, a request may be made to discuss the decision with the determining official. The request for a formal appeal can be made either orally or in writing to Craig Schneider, Director of Child Nutrition, Poudre School District, 1502 S. Timberline Road, Fort Collins, CO 80524, (970) 490-3557.

Applications may be submitted any time during the school year. If a family is not currently eligible but has a decrease in income, becomes unemployed, has an increase in family size, or becomes eligible for SNAP benefits, an application may be completed at that time.

Each School has a copy of the complete policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

For more information, contact Linda Graham, Child Nutrition Office Manager, at (970) 490-3557.