 Executive Director  Food Service Directors of residential child care institutions  Staff who determine meal eligibility May 2012Wyoming Department of Education2

 Comprehend the implementation procedures & timelines of eligibility following the USDA approved guidelines. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education3

 Meal eligibility is the process that determines a student’s eligibility for free, reduced-price, and paid meal benefits in the following programs:  National School Lunch Program (NSLP)  School Breakfast Program (SBP)  Afterschool Care Program May 2012Wyoming Department of Education4

 Day students are community students who attend a school operated by an RCCI, but who do not live in the RCCI May 2012Wyoming Department of Education5

 Need a Statement of Facts May 2012Wyoming Department of Education6 Statement of Facts is a written statement outlining the general policy of an RCCI which would cause all its institutionalized children (not day students) to be eligible for free meal benefits.

This is the simplest method of documenting children’s eligibility. This Statement of Facts must be on file at the RCCI.  Example 1: All children are wards of the court. They are not permitted to earn, receive, or retain any money while in our custody.”  Example 2: Children may hold part-time jobs (up to 16 hours per week). The maximum earnings we have seen has been $_____ per week. We also permit students to receive up to $____ per week from home but require any money received or earned to be turned into our “bank” and to be drawn out only with permission. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education7

May 2012Wyoming Department of Education8  Residents of the RCCI may attend a public school or attend a school operated by the RCCI.  If a student attends a public school, a meal application should be completed to receive meals at the public school.  Meals served to an institutionalized child who may be a ward of the court are not automatically eligible to be claimed as free simply because he/she resides in an RCCI.

 An institutionalized child’s eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals is based on any income the child receives; family income is not considered.  Most meals for institutionalized children are claimed as free because the children’s personal income falls well within the eligibility guidelines. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education9

 All RCCIs must maintain a list of the names, ages (must be under twenty-one years of age), and entry and departure dates of all children participating in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Program.  If the RCCI does not have a predetermined policy which dictates the allowable income to children, then it may record eligibility determination, by child, on a master list or an enrollment application. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education10

 Both Master lists and rosters must contain the following:  Child’s name  Child’s personal income (indicate zero if no income is received)  Frequency with which income is received  Date of eligibility determination  Category of eligibility  Approving official’s signature/initials May 2012Wyoming Department of Education11

May 2012Wyoming Department of Education12

May 2012Wyoming Department of Education13 Questions

May 2012Wyoming Department of Education14

Eligibility is determined each school year in one or more of the following ways for day students: ► Income eligibility ► Categorical eligibility  Both require eligibility applications  Check page 13 of the manual. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education15

 Income eligibility: Students are income eligible in the free or reduced-price category if their household size and income are within the USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education16

INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES (Effective from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012) May 2012Wyoming Department of Education17

 Categorical eligibility: Students are categorically eligible in the free category if their family/household receives assistance such as:  SNAP  FDPIR  Foster Children  Runaway and Homeless May 2012Wyoming Department of Education18

 Foster Children are also categorically eligible for free meal benefits. However, they do not automatically qualify their household as categorically free. Appropriate documentation should be obtained from the State or local oversight agency indicating the status of the child as a foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or court. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education19

 The 2004 Reauthorization Act established the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, which granted automatic eligibility for free meals to migrant, homeless, and runaway youth.  RCCI’s may want to contact local school districts for information.  Migrant, homeless, or runaway youth on a list which has been certified, signed, and dated by the agency’s liaison or coordinator qualify for free meals without completing an application. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education20

 Acceptable documentation to substantiate participation in a program for runaway children sponsored by RHYA must include:  Child’s name or a list of names of participating children;  Effective date(s); and  Signature of the school district’s homeless liaison. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education21

 The following is a website that may assist LEAs in obtaining more information about the operations of the RHYA programs in their State: For further information on FYSB, see their web site at: ex.html ex.html May 2012Wyoming Department of Education22

 Direct Certification is the process that allows household members receiving assistance such as SNAP or TANF, eligible for free meals without completing an application. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education23

 Refer to pages 59 – 62 of the Eligibility Manual for School Meals May 2012Wyoming Department of Education24

If you already have a Fusion user account:  Request access to the Direct Cert R2 website 1. Navigate your browser to Complete the User Registration Request form, you will need the following information: --Your name and address --Your phone number --The organization you work for (either district or institution) May 2012Wyoming Department of Education25

3. Submit the form to request access to the website.  If you have any questions contact Keith Geringer at or May 2012Wyoming Department of Education26

If you don't already have a Fusion user account: 1. Navigate your browser to Register.aspxhttp://fusion.edu.wyoming.gov/MySites/ Register.aspx 2. Complete the Request Login form, you will need the following information: May 2012Wyoming Department of Education27

--Your name and address --Your WISE Staff ID --Your Phone Number --The organization you work for (either district or institution) --Select "Direct Cert R2 Users" from the Roles list May 2012Wyoming Department of Education28

May 2012Wyoming Department of Education29 Need help? Contact Keith Geringer at or

May 2012Wyoming Department of Education30 QUESTIONS?

May 2012Wyoming Department of Education31 All RCCIs Who Do Have School Districts Determine Free and Reduced Applications Can Stop Here

May 2012Wyoming Department of Education32 An application is a free and reduced meal benefit form submitted by an individual household for ALL children in that household.

 Must use application sent by “WDE” 1. You can add to the application without approval from Terry or Tamra. 2. You cannot delete any information from the application. 3. The FNS web site at: has prototype applications translated in a number of languages. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education33

 Informing households (pages 7-9) 1. Sent to all households at beginning of the School Year. 2. Applications must be supplied to new enrollments through out the School Year. 3. If computer or web-based applications are used, paper copies must still be issued to all families. May 2012Wyoming Department of Education34

 Benefits prior to processing (page 15)  Households with approved applications from previous year.  New students in an LEA with prior approval  Students who transfer from one school to another with the same LEA Carryover of previous year’s eligibility – 30 operating days May 2012Wyoming Department of Education35

 Verifying that applications are complete (pages )  Citizenship/legal status  Income conversion of different income frequencies (pages )  Determining Eligibility ( page 20) 1. Categorical 2. Income May 2012Wyoming Department of Education36

May 2012Wyoming Department of Education37 QUESTIONS