No more free lunch...

[Anonymous]

at my Title I school this year. Last year when the % of qualifying kids (FARMS) was very high (80%), it was free for everyone. I'm wondering if the policy has changed across DCPS or if it's just my school-- our FARMS % dropped quite a bit in 2010-2011. Does anyone know? (Not asking because I have any problem with paying for it; on the contrary, I'm glad that we're become a more economically diverse school.)

[Anonymous]

Your school probably no longer qualify under Provision II Status - the 4 year period has expired and the # of FARM have reduced.


Provision II statud reduces application burdens and simplifies meal counting and claiming procedures. It allows schools to establish claiming percentages and to serve all meals at no charge for a 4 year period.

My school received it's ProvisionII status last year. I suspect we will no tbe able to renew once our 4 years is up.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, in case anyone else is interested I found some info about Provision 2 here

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/prov-1-2-3/Prov2Guidance.pdf

From skimming this it sounds like it's actually an option for the schools with 80% FARM--they decide if the administrative costs of collecting lunch money are worth what they'll actually collect (which they have to pay the federal government no matter what).