Dysart Participates in National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 07/22/2024

DYSART SCHOOLS — Dysart Unified School District will be participating in the National School Lunch Program and Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). As part of this program, Dysart Unified will offer healthy meals every school day. Breakfast will cost $1.50. Lunch will cost $2.75 for Elementary/Middle and $3.00 for High School. Your child(ren) may qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Reduced-price meals for breakfast and lunch cost is $0.00 for the 2024-2025 school year.  

Students at Eligible CEP Schools will receive free meals at no cost. Your child(ren) will receive one free breakfast and one free lunch every school day without having to pay a fee or submit a household application. 2nd meals and a la carte items will still be available to purchase at their paid rates. In lieu of a household application please submit an alternate income form at www.schoolcafe.com. 

The following 11 schools have been approved to operate Community Eligibility Provision: Countryside Elementary School, Dysart High School, Dysart Middle School, El Mirage Elementary School, Kingswood Elementary School, Luke Elementary School, Riverview School, Surprise Elementary School, Thompson Ranch Elementary School, Valley Vista High School, and West Point Elementary School. As part of this program, meals are provided at no cost to students attending the schools above. 

Qualifications for children to receive free or reduced-price meals include: belonging to a household whose income is at or below the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines, attending a CEP approved site, belonging to a household that receives public assistance, or if the child is homeless, migrant, runaway, foster, or participates in a Head Start or Even Start pre-Kindergarten program. Household size and income criteria are used to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits if the household does not receive assistance or the children are not in the other categories mentioned above. Children can get free or reduced-price meals if the household’s gross income falls at or below the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guideline chart.

To apply for free or reduced-price meals, we highly recommend applying online at www.schoolcafe.com. Paper applications are available in each school office and can be returned to the school once completed unless the household has already received notification that their children are approved for free meals this year. Applications include a letter informing households of the availability of free and reduced-price meals for their children and what is required to complete on the application, 

Only one application is required for all children in the household and the information provided on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and verification of data. Applications may be verified at any time during the school year by the school or other program officials. An application for free or reduced-price benefits cannot be approved unless it contains complete eligibility information as indicated on the application and instructions. In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability. 

Families can apply for benefits at any time. If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the Federal Guidelines. Contact Claudia Zamora, Nutrition Liaison at any time to request an application. 

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price policy, the Nutrition Liaison will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Marydel Speidell at 13825 W. Desert Cove Rd., Surprise, AZ 85379. 

When known to Dysart Unified households will be notified of their children’s eligibility for free meals if they are members of households receiving assistance from the: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR); or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), if the State program meets Federal standards. 

An application is not required for free meal benefits for Assistance Program participants and all of the children in the household are eligible for free meal benefits. If any children were not listed on the notice of eligibility, or if a household does not receive a notice of eligibility, the household should contact the school to have free meal benefits extended to them. Participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals, but they will need to turn in an application including household size and total income. 

When known to Dysart Unified households will also be notified of any child’s eligibility for free meals if the individual child is considered “Other Source Categorically Eligible”, because the child is categorized, as defined by law as: Foster, Homeless, Migrant, Runaway, Enrolled in an eligible Head Start, or Enrolled in an eligible pre-kindergarten class. 

If any children were not listed on the notice of eligibility, the household should contact the school about their eligibility through the list above or should submit an income application. Households notified of their children’s eligibility must contact the school if the household chooses to decline the free meal benefits. For more information, you may call the Nutrition Department at 623-876-7075 or e-mail at nutrition@dysart.org. 

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/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.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.