The Office of Public Instruction School Nutrition Programs is announcing all Montana Local Education Agencies that participate in and offer free and reduced price school meals or free milk. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reimburses organizations for healthy meals served to enrolled students, according to National School Lunch Program policy guidelines.
Schools who offer meals to students at no cost through the Community Eligibility Provision do not require families to apply for benefits using a household application.
Schools who operate pricing programs determine student eligibility through household application. You may apply for school meal/milk benefits at any time throughout the year by submitting a household application directly to your school. Children may be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals or free milk if household income is within the limits of eligibility. Please note an application for free or reduced price benefits cannot be processed without complete information. The information on the application may be verified at any time during the school year. For more details on applying, refer to the frequently asked questions or contact your child’s school.
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Households who receive assistance from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR); or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are eligible for free meals/milk and no application is required. Children who qualify for the new Medicaid direct certification may also receive either free or reduced price meals ($0.40 for NSLP and $0.30 SBP). Children who meet the definition of homeless, migrant, runaway and foster are also eligible for free meals/milk.
The school district will send a notice to your household about free meal/milk benefits. If you do not receive a notice of eligibility or there are children living in your household who are not listed, please contact your school district. Households who choose to decline free meal benefits should contact their local school district.
If you are eligible for unemployment compensation, you might also be eligible for free or reduced price school meals or free milk. Children with parents or guardians who become unemployed are eligible for free or reduced-price meals or for free milk during the period of unemployment, provided that the loss of income causes the household income during the period of unemployment to be within the eligibility criteria.
Head Start enrollees, as defined in 5 245.2, are categorically eligible for free meals and free milk and their families should contact the school for more details. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children participants may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals.
If you do not agree with the decision with respect to the application, you may appeal the decision under the hearing procedure set forth in 5 245.7.
