(Special to AFN)
BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL
Kyrene's free, reduced-price meals a boost for qualifying students AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS STAFF
Kyrene School District is participating in the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program, offering free or reduced prices to qualified households. Breakfast served at a child’s school normally costs $1 while lunch costs $2.65 at elementary schools and $2.75 at middle schools. The reduced prices are 30 centers for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. To receive a free or reduced price meal, a child’s household must have an income at or below the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines, or must be on public assistance, or in a Head Start or Even Start program. Children who are homeless, migrants, runaways, or in a foster home also are eligible. The eligibility scale ranges from a maximum $15,444 annual income for a oneperson household to a maximum annual income of $53,157 for a household with eight members. A full chart is at www. kyrene.org/foodservices. The percentages of students in Kyrene Schools in Ahwatukee qualifying for the free or reduced meals varies widely, although they are all below the state average of 58 percent, according to the latest available data compiled by the state Education Department. The data, covering the 2015-16 school year, shows that among the district’s Ahwatukee schools, Lomas, Centennial and Colina had the highest percentages of students qualifying with 51 percent, 42 percent and 41 percent, respectively. Percentages of students qualifying for free or reduced price lunches and breakfasts in the other Kyrene schools in Ahwatukee last school year were: Akimel, 25 percent; Altadena, 8 percent; Estrella, 20 percent; Sierra, 10 percent; Cerritos, 7 percent; Milenio, 34 percent; and Monte Vista, 12 percent. Across the entire district, the highest
percentages of qualifying students are in two Tempe schools, Norte and Ninos, with 61 percent and 55 percent, respectively. Among students in Ahwatukee’s two high schools, only 8 percent of Desert Vista students and 25 percent of Mountain Pointe students qualified last school year for free or reduced price meals. Desert Vista’s percentage was the lowest among all Tempe Union district high schools. The highest percentage, 65, was at Tempe High. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, households in Kyrene can fill out the application and return it to the school unless the household has already received notification that their children are approved for free meals this year. Application forms are distributed to all households with a letter informing households of the availability of free and reduced-price meals for their children and what is required to complete the application. Applications also are available in each school office, at the Kyrene District Office and at www.kyrene.org/foodservices. Only one application is required for all children in the household and all applications are subject to unannounced verification at any time during the school year, a district release said. Families can apply for benefits at any time. For example, if a household member becomes unemployed or the family size increases, the school district should be notified immediately. Parents or guardians who want to appeal a ruling on their eligibility can request a hearing by writing or calling district Chief Financial Officer Jeremy Calles, Kyrene School District, 8700 S Kyrene Road, #1A, Tempe, AZ 85284 or calling 480-541-1350.
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ahwatukee.com | Ahwatukee Foothills News | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2016 Page 21