Information Released On Free/Reduced-Price Meals At Fairfield Public Schools

News release from Fairfield Public Schools:

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield Public Schools announced today its policy for determining eligibility of children who may receive free or reduced-price meals served under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP).

Local school officials have adopted the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) for family size and income criteria for determining eligibility. The following income guidelines will be used in Connecticut from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 for determining participant’s eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals in the Child Nutrition Programs (CNP).

Income Guidelines for Child Nutrition Programs: July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026

Free Meals

Reduced-price Meals

— Tables from Fairfield Public Schools

The income calculations above are based on the following formulas:

• monthly income is calculated by dividing the annual income by 12;
• twice monthly income is computed by dividing annual income by 24;
• income received every two weeks is calculated by dividing annual income by 26; and
• weekly income is computed by dividing annual income by 52.

All numbers are rounded upward to the next whole dollar.

Students residing in households with income at or below the levels shown in the chart above are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. The Free and Reduced-price School Meals Application will be posted on the district website, fairfieldschools.org, on the Food Services page. A notice of availability will be communicated to all households via ParentSquare. Printed copies of the application can be found in any school’s main office and at the district central office. An application can be mailed or emailed to you by contacting the Food Services Dept. at (203) 255-8370. To apply for free or reduced-price school meals, households should fill out the application and return it to any school office, email it to FoodSvc@fairfieldschools.org, or mail/bring it to FPS Food Services, 501 Kings Hwy East, Suite 210, Fairfield, CT 06825. Only one application is required per household and an application for free or reduced-price school meals cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information as indicated on the application and instructions.

The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purposes of determining eligibility and for administration and enforcement of the lunch and breakfast programs. Additionally, all school-aged students in income-eligible households can receive school meal benefits regardless of a student’s immigration status and the district does not release information for immigration-related purposes in the usual course of operating the CNPs. Note that the district may share your eligibility information with education, health, social service, and nutrition programs to help them evaluate, fund, or determine benefits for their programs, auditors for program reviews, and law enforcement officials to help them look into violations of program rules. This information may also be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program officials. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year.

No application is required if the district directly certifies a student based on a household member receiving assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or the Temporary Family Assistance (TFA) program. All students in these households are eligible for free school meals. The school district will notify households receiving assistance under the SNAP/TFA programs of their eligibility and all enrolled students residing in the household will be offered free school meals unless the household notifies the determining official that it chooses to decline benefits. If any students were not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact the district to have free meal benefits extended to those students. Households receiving SNAP or TFA benefits for their children should only submit an application if they are not notified of their eligibility by October 1, 2025.

Some students may be directly certified for free or reduced-price meals based on HUSKY A (Medicaid). No application is required if the district directly certifies a student based on participation in HUSKY A (Medicaid). Students in these households are likely eligible for free or reduced-priced meal and will be notified of their eligibility and their children will be offered free or reduced-price school meals, unless the household notifies the determining official that it chooses to decline benefits. If any students were not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact the district to have free or reduced-price school meals benefits extended to those students.

Additionally, some students may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the students were determined to be eligible for Summer Electronic Benefits (S-EBT). No application is required if the district determines that a student is eligible for free or reduced-price meals due to participation in S-EBT. Students in these households are likely eligible for free or reduced-priced meal benefits and will be notified of their eligibility and their children will be offered free or reduced-price school meals accordingly, unless the household notifies the determining official that it chooses to decline benefits. If any students were not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact the district to have free or reduced-price school meals benefits extended to those students.

If a student is not directly certified, the household should complete and submit a free and reduced-price meal application form. The application for households receiving SNAP or TFA benefits require the SNAP or TFA client ID number and the households may be asked to provide proof of the SNAP or TFA client ID number. The signature of an adult household
member is also required.

Students in households participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. Please complete and submit a free and reduced-price meal application or contact the determining official for more information. For a tutorial on how to complete the application, visit How to fill out the Application for Free and Reduced-price Meals and Summer EBT.

When known to the district, households will be notified of any student’s eligibility for free school meals if the individual student is “Other Source Categorically Eligible” because the student is categorized as either: homeless; runaway as defined by law and determined by the district’s homeless liaison. Households with students who are categorically eligible under Other Source Categorically Eligible Programs should complete and submit a free and reduced-price meal application and check-off the relevant box. Questions should be directed to the determining official. For any student not listed on the eligibility notice, the households should contact the determining official about any student also eligible under one of these programs or should submit an income application for the other students.

Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the determining official if it chooses to decline the free school meal benefits. If households are not notified by the district of their free meal benefits and they receive benefits under qualifying public assistance programs or under Other Source Categorically Eligible Programs, the parent/guardian should contact the district’s determining official.

Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court, are categorically eligible for free school meals. A foster parent does not have to complete a free/reduced-price school meal application if they can submit a copy of the legal document or legal court order showing that the student is a foster child. Additionally, a foster child may be
included as a member of the foster family if the foster family chooses to also apply for benefits.

If the foster family is not eligible for free or reduced-price school meal benefits, it does not prevent a foster child from receiving free school meals. A foster child’s eligibility for free school meals does not automatically extend to all students in the household.

Free and reduced-price school meals application forms for all other households require a statement of total household income, household size, and names of all household members. The last four digits of the social security number of an adult household member must be included or a statement that the household member does not have one. The adult household
member must also sign the application certifying that the information provided is correct.

Under the provisions of the policy for determining eligibility for free and reduced-price school meals, the Foods Services Secretary at (203) 255-8370 or FoodSvc@fairfieldschools.org will review applications and determine students’ eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals. If a parent/guardian is dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official, they may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. If they wish to make a
formal appeal, a request either orally or in writing, may be made to Terri Deveny, FPS Interim Chief Financial Officer, 501 Kings Hwy East, Suite 210, Fairfield, CT 06825 or by phone at (203) 255-8383 or email TDeveny@fairfieldschools.org for a hearing to appeal the decision.

The policy contains an outline of the hearing procedure. Each school and the central office of the school district has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by an interested party. If a household member becomes unemployed or if household size changes at any time, the household should contact the district to file a new free and reduced-price school meals application. Such changes may make the students of the household eligible for reduced-price school meals or free school meals if the household income falls at or below the levels shown in the Income Eligibility Guidelines.

Questions regarding the free and reduced-price school meals application process may be directed to the determining official at FoodSvc@fairfieldschools.org or (203) 255-8370. A video tutorial on how to complete a free and reduced-price school meals application can be viewed at How to fill out the Application for Free and Reduced-price Meals and Summer EBT.

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at:

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.