Parents of students in the Port Aransas Independent School District may apply for free or reduced price meals for their children.

Parents who qualify are encouraged to apply under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Each school and/or the central office has a copy of the policy, which is available to the public.

Eligibility ranges from households of one with yearly incomes of $13,520 to households of 12 with incomes of $65,000 or more.

Elementary children may buy lunch for $1.50, breakfast for $1.25; students in middle and high school may buy lunch for $2 and breakfast for $1.50. Students who qualify under U.S. Dept. of Agriculture guidelines may get meals free or at a reduced-price of 40¢ for lunch and 30¢ for breakfast.

Household size and income criteria are used to determine eligibility for free and reduced-price benefits. Children from households whose income is at or below certain levels are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Foster children who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court also may be eligible for benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside. Eligibility for the foster child is based on the child's income.

Application forms are being distributed to all households with a letter about the availability of free and reduced-price meals for children. Applications also are available at the principal's office in each school. To apply for free and reduced-price meals, applications must be filled out and returned to the school. Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information provided on the application will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and verification of data. Applications may be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year.

For school officials to determine eligibility, parents receiving food stamps or TANF only have to list their child's name and food stamp or TANF case number. An adult household member must sign the application.

Families that do not list a food stamp or TANF case number must list the names of all household members, the amount and source of the income received by each household member, and the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application. If the adult who signs the application does not have a Social Security number, the household member must indicate that a Social Security number is not available by writing "NONE," "No Number," or some indication that the person does not have a Social Security number.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, school officials will review applications and determine eligibility. Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling may discuss the decision on an informal basis.

Families that list a food stamp or TANF case number must report it when the household no longer receives these benefits.

For more information, call the PAISD administration office at 749- 1205.