DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICES FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEAL APPLICATIONS AND FAMILY ECONOMIC DATA SURVEYS Elaine Leggett Program Specialist

OBJECTIVES (1) The meal application and the EDS are very important, not only to the student BUT ALSO to your school. (2) You – the secretary are the first contact with an application most of the time. (3) Confidentiality (4) I’m here to request your assistance on this very important process. (6) Did You Know….facts (5) Start Smart Breakfast

1) Important to the Student / Family A nutritious breakfast and lunch –Hungry children can’t learn –Free or Reduced to those who meet federal guidelines Fees waived for different school programs –Advanced Placement Exams, Post Secondary Program, Summer School.

1) Important to the School and District $$ allocated to schools based on number approved free or reduced as of October 1 is defined in 2 ways: –1. Federal Programs – $48 million –2. State of Colorado School Finance Act - $4.8 million Various grant applications

1) Important to the School E-Rate funding for those schools with 90% or greater approved free/reduced The more approved, the more $$ for your school District / Schools benefit even if students don’t eat ($$ based on number approved, not number eating)

2) What to do with an application or an EDS form GIVE THEM TO THE LUNCHROOM MANAGER PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM THROUGH THE SCHOOL MAIL DO NOT FAX

3) Confidentiality The students eligibility status is very confidential. A manager cannot give out information regarding a students status to anyone. Please don’t ask them. Title I and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (both used for funding) are two of the programs we can release a students status without one of the following 2 documents:

3) Confidentiality (cont.) 1. Notification Letter The parent may give you the notification letter we send to them when their application has been processed.

3) Confidentiality (cont.) 2.Information Release Form This form must be signed by the parent/guardian and returned to the Food Service office. The program for which you are asking the information to be released must be typed in the middle of the form or we cannot accept it.  Examples for which these two items can be used for are: advanced placement exams fee waiver, summer school fee waiver and many others.

4) Assistance Request Free and Reduced Meal Applications Make sure you put student information into Infinite Campus ASAP –We can’t process without it Ask ALL parents to complete an application Make sure applications are complete and in blue or black ink - No gel pens, pencils, or highlighters Give applications to managers –Don’t put in school mail

4) Assistance Request Meal Application (cont.) Example shows areas needed to be completed

4) Assistance Request Family Economic Data Surveys Make sure you put student information into Infinite Campus ASAP –We can’t process without it Ask ALL parents whose child was not enrolled in the school year to complete a survey Call if you want a list of students who were enrolled in your school at year end of Make sure all EDS forms are complete

4)Assistance Request EDS Form (cont.) Example shows areas needed to be completed

5) Start Smart Breakfast Free to ALL students Breakfast is the most important meal of the day Studies show that students who eat breakfast have: –Better concentration –Easier time learning –Less tardiness –Less absenteeism

6) Did You Know….facts Remember - We are now: Enterprise Management Division Food and Nutrition Services School Supply Store District Distribution and Warehousing District Fixed Assets Mail Distribution Vending – Pepsi Contract Catering

6) Did You Know….facts (cont.) We have a bi-lingual staff member. Dina (August through December) How Important October 31 st is? Provision II schools should not complete the meal application, but should complete an EDS form. Previous Free/Reduced students eat at their last year’s status for 30 student contact days or until a new application has been completed, whichever comes first.

6) Did You Know….facts (cont.) Unused meal applications and EDS forms from previous years cannot be used? Please Destroy Them A family can still complete an application even if there is NO Social Security Number? EDS forms do not ask for a Social Security Number?

Need More Applications or EDS Forms? Have Questions? Please give us a call – Elaine – Dina (Aug. - Dec.) – Main number

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COOPERATION