Public Needs to Know

What the parents need to know is what the program is about and how to qualify for it, the benefits of the program, what kinds of special needs the program provides for their kids, and the cost of the program. After describing all of these important items to the parents, the parents will be happy that their children are getting a healthy meal or meals at school. The first thing parents need to know about what the new program is and how to qualify for the program. This type of program is a National program provided by federal government.According to the fact sheet on the National school lunch program, this program is federally assisted meal program the is operated in over 100,000 public and non-profit private schools.

Also, this program is down at residential child care institutions as well (National School Lunch Program Fact Sheet). This program will be available to all grade levels from Kindergarten through the twelve grade. Every elementary, middle and high schools will have the same lunches throughout the school district. However, before any student within the district can be part of this program, they must qualify first.

To qualify for the program, the parent must filled out a form for each child. For an example, if a parent has 2 kids in the same school or 2 kids in different school within the district, they must fill out a form for each child. At the beginning of the school year, the parent will go to a web site that will allow them to sign up their children. They must fill out the form before their child can get into the program. For an example, the Beaufort Country School District in South Carolina, the parent would go to the school district web site.

Then they would go to the section for parents and students. On that page, there is a section for lunches.They would click on lunches, the page will come up and then they would click on free and reduced. On the site page, the parents can click a link that will allow them sign up their child for their program. Also on the page, it tell them all about their program. (Free & Reduced, 2012-2013).

Our school district would have to same process as that school district would. Also, we would have a paper application for parents who do not have a computer at home. After the student is qualified for the program, they would get a lunch/breakfast code that will allow them to get breakfast and lunch for free or at a reduce rate.For the student to able to get into this program each year, the parent must fill out the form each year. Plus parent are responsible for paying for their child meal at school until their application is approved by the district. The next thing that parent would like to know is how much is it going to cost the district as well for themselves.

Well as said before, this program is free or reduces lunch and breakfast program. The best thing about this program, working with the USDA, the district would get cash reimbursement for each breakfast and lunch service.According to the School Breakfast program fact sheet, the school district would get $1. 55 for every free breakfast serviced, $1. 25 for every reduced-price breakfast serviced and $0. 27 for every breakfast meal that is paid at full price (The School Breakfast Program Fact Sheet).

For a more break down on how the district would get money back from breakfast service, check out the Table 1-1 in Appendix A page. According to the National school lunch program fact sheet, the school district would received $2. 86 for every free lunch serviced, $2. 46 reduced-price lunch served, and $0.

7 for every full paid lunch service. For a further in-depth detail on how much the district would get back from the government, check out Table 1-2 in Appendix A page. For parents, the cost would all depend on what you are qualified for when your application is filled out. If you have to pay, while filling out the application on-line, you would create an account and place your credit or debit card number into the system.

When your child is getting their meal, if they are not qualified for a free meal, but are qualified for a reduce price, your card will be charge.The third thing that parent want to know about this program is what will the program provide for special need kids and what healthy food will there be on the menu for lunches. For the food service to the kids, the school would submit a form to the district on what food they would need. The form will be provided by the district which is provided by the state. The state would send the district a form of food that they approved that would be order thought the USDA (National School Lunch Program Fact Sheet).According to the Lunch program fact sheet as well, there could be a bonus foods offered only when they are available through the agricultural surplus (National School Lunch Program Fact Sheet).

For an example of good healthy food that would be serviced to kids are deli turkey sandwiches, baby carrots, tossed salads and diced peaches. For the special need kids who have allergies, there would be foods that you be available for them in a separate area for them to pick it up. Also, if there are more kids with the same food allergies, the school would place all of those kids in one area of the cafeteria for them to sit for lunch and for breakfast.That is a promise. The last thing a parent need to know what are the benefits of the program.

One benefit is that their kids would get a healthy meal from the district. For the district to be in this program, we have to follow the guide line of the FDA put in place. For an example, we would have to make available fresh fruits for kids to have to eat like apples and peaches. Another benefit is that it would not cost you a lot of money to use.

There are family in the country who are in financial trouble.When a parent fills out the application, your child's meal section of the program will depend on what you fill out on the application for income. Another benefit is that the school would received money to be able to keep this program running for future generations. There have been school district in the country that have good success with this program. For an example, the Beaufort County School District in South Carolina have been in this program for years. With all of the information provided, parents should get excited with the new program.

Being able to get a free healthy meal for their child at school is a good thing.